Three more COVID deaths

Alexis Barker
NLJ News Editor
 
The Wyoming Department of Health on Tuesday, Nov. 16, reported three more Weston County deaths connected to COVID-19, according to information from the Wyoming News Exchange. The deaths were reportedly two Weston County women and one man, bringing the local death
count to 13. 
These deaths, according to the Wyoming Department of Health, occurred in October and early November. All three people were hospitalized before their deaths and only one had health conditions known to put people at a higher risk of severe illness caused by COVID-19. 
The additional three deaths from Weston County were reported along with 46 other deaths across the state, bringing the total number of deaths related to COVID-19 to 1,347 since the beginning of the pandemic. 
According to the health department’s website, of these deaths, 106 occurred among vaccinated individuals. In
Weston County, one of the reported deaths was that of a vaccinated person. 
As of Thursday, Nov. 18, 41.18% of Wyoming’s residents are vaccinated, or 238,347 people. In Weston County, 2,285 people are fully vaccinated, or 32.99%. 
Since the start of the pandemic, the state has had 86,285 confirmed cases and 22,373 probable cases, of which 8,853 occurred in vaccinated individuals. As of Nov. 18, 1,576 cases were active in the state. 
Weston County, as of Nov. 18, had 21 active cases out of the 1,185 combined confirmed and probable cases reported since the beginning of the pandemic. Of these cases, 77 were found in vaccinated individuals. 
“The numbers are decreasing for you guys (Weston County), looking at the last several weeks. It does appear that case numbers are trending down,” said Melanie Pearce, a public health nurse. “That is a good thing.” 
According to Pearce, health officials are still urging people to receive the vaccine to prevent severe illness. All three vaccine types for ages 5 and older are available locally. 
“We can provide, at the (Weston County) public health office the vaccine for all ages 5 and older,” she said, noting that Weston County Health Services Pharmacy also has the vaccine available for all ages. Cambria Discount Drug also offers COVID vaccines for those 18 and older.
She added that people do need to call to schedule an appointment. 
“If the parents want to get their kids vaccinated or have questions, they can call Carmen (Simon at the Weston County Public Health Office) and she can help them,” Pearce said. 
She noted that public health nurse Michelle Sweet has done a fantastic job of keeping services available through the local office for residents since the retirement of Lori Bickford. Pearce added that public health officials are still actively seeking a public health nurse to fill Bickford’s position.