JACKSON, Wyo. — Health officials in Teton County are encouraging all community members to keep wearing their masks even after the mask order expires on Dec. 31. Health District Officer Travis Riddell signed a new recommendation, in lieu of an order, yesterday, encouraging anyone over two to wear masks in public settings regardless of vaccination status.
In addition, mask-wearing is recommended when in crowded outdoor settings but is not recommended in other outdoor settings.
The Teton District Health Officer will not seek a new mask order at this time, unless a significant surge in cases, healthcare system stress, or other significant community impact is seen. Teton County is still in the red or high-risk level for COVID-19. As of Dec. 17, 2021, our current case rate is 179.0/100,000.
There is a large body of scientific evidence that supports mask-wearing as one community mitigation measure to stop the spread of COVID-19. Mask wearing is a multi-layered approach that also includes vaccination.
“Even though Teton County still remains in the Red/high-risk level there are multiple developments that have occurred that allow us to feel more comfortable with the mask order expiring,” said Teton District Health Officer, Travis Riddell. “These include authorization of booster doses for individuals 16+, enough time for 5-11 years old to receive the authorized COVID-19 vaccine and become fully vaccinated, reduction in the number of hospitalizations among Teton County residents, authorization of the first pre-exposure prophylaxis of COVID-19 for individuals with weaken immune systems, and the likely upcoming authorization of additional antiviral medications to treat mild and moderate cases of COVID-19.”
With the start of the winter season and the imminent arrival of the Omicron variant, the Health Department and the District Health Officer wanted to make sure community members, businesses and organizations have enough time to take any necessary steps before the mask order expires.
“At this moment in time we have not had a positive test for the Omicron variant in Teton County,” said Rachael Wheeler, public health response coordinator at TCHD. “With that being said, all the other surrounding states and other locations in Wyoming have detected a case of Omicron.”
Since many community members were fully vaccinated by Spring of 2021 many are now due for a booster dose. Although the COVID-19 vaccine remains effective at preventing severe illness and hospitalization against COVID-19, recent evidence has shown that the vaccination becomes less effective over time.
“Even though right now Omicron is showing people have more mild symptoms, if we have a lot of mild cases our resources and healthcare system will get overwhelmed. That’s what we are trying to prevent,” said Wheeler.
As the Omicron variant becomes the dominant SARS-CoV-2 variant in the United States, getting a booster dose is an important way to decrease community transmission and to increase your protection against mild and moderate disease especially in older individuals and those who may not have received a strong immune response. Booster doses have now been authorized for individuals 16+. To book a COVID-19 vaccine appointment click here. Area pharmacies such as Smith’s, Albertsons, Broulim’s in Driggs, Corner Drug in Driggs, and Broulim’s in Alpine are other locations community members can go to receive a booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
“People should operate under the assumption that it is already here. Wear your mask, stay home when you’re sick, get your booster if you haven’t,” said Wheeler.
Though there will no longer be a mask order in place, the Health Department encourages community members to help protect each other by following COVID-19 protective measures. Each individual and family has different circumstances conferring different risks. For example, others in the community may live with a grandparent, have had an organ transplant, have a child under five years of age who cannot be vaccinated, live with someone at high risk for severe COVID-19 disease.
“Whatever the situation, it will be our individual actions that help ensure all community members are protected from COVID-19,” said TCHD. “It is difficult to know who you could potentially be exposing (or exposed to) when you are out in the community; please be considerate of others and do your part to help protect all Teton County residents.”
To see all the Health Departments’ preventative measures and guidance to protect yourself, your family, coworkers, friends, and neighbors from COVID-19 click here. To read Public Health Recommendation #12 click here.
