Still no cases

Alexis Barker
NLJ News Editor
 
Weston County has made it another week without a confirmed case of COVID-19 in the community, according to Weston County Public Health Officer Mike Jording and the Wyoming Department of Health. Jording reported that the lack of positive tests is not the result of testing not happening in the county. 
“Testing is still available and we sent out another test on Monday. We are testing at all medical facilities in the community, depending on the symptom of the patients,” Jording said. “The ability to get a test done hinges upon the patient’s visit with a provider in Weston County or through contacting the triage line through Monument Health Services.” 
According to the Department of Health, a total of 66 tests have been conducted in Weston County. Statewide, 8,880 tests have been conducted, resulting in 389 positives in 21 counties across the state. 
Jording said that talk in the community has suggested that the COVID-19 virus made its way through the county early this year and it was not detected because health officials were not attune to the virus. 
“There has been some antibody testing done that determines whether there has been past exposure to the virus,” Jording said. “The antibody testing that has been done has been negative. Although some had a hunch that there was coronavirus around that we didn’t know about, tests have not proved that to be the case, but I am sure more testing is going to be done. We still haven’t seen recent or past exposure to this specific virus yet.” 
Despite the lack of confirmed cases, Jording said that opening up the community has to be done appropriately and will depend on direction from Wyoming’s governor,  Mark Gordon. Gordon was expected to make some announcements on Tuesday. 
“We have been looking at some of the restrictions as a local emergency coordination team and discussed issues with opening certain buildings back up in the future,” Jording said, noting that operations currently being discussed include the libraries and courthouse. 
“We are talking about opening things up locally, and how we do that, but it all hinges upon what the governor’s message to each of the county health officers is,” Jording said. “Once we see that we can act more rapidly with specific recommendations.” 
Regardless, Jording said it is important for the community to remain vigilant and continue protecting themselves while outside their homes.
On Tuesday afternoon, Gov. Mark Gordon issued new public health orders effective May 1 that will allow for gyms, hair salons, tattoo parlors and other personal care services to open under certain restrictions. Businesses will need to maintain operating guidelines in compliance with COVID-19 social distancing measures, including six-foot distancing between work spaces and limiting the number of people in any one room.
According to the April 28 release from Gordon’s office, these orders will remain in effect through May 15.
“These new orders start our process of getting this part of Wyoming’s economy up and running again,” Gordon said in the release. “We have asked Wyoming citizens to make sacrifices over the past five weeks and they have responded. I want to thank these businesses for playing such an important role in our initial battle with COVID-19. Easing the restrictions on these businesses at this time is prudent and gets us one step closer to a return to normal.”
Also included in the new health orders is the authorization for hospitals and other health care providers to resume elective surgeries and the restrictions on day cares has been loosened to include the children of non-essential workers.
County health officers will have the ability to implement their own variances based on local expertise and data.