JACKSON, Wyo. — Teton County Health Department’s case investigators are drowning in COVID-19 cases amid a new surge, the Health Department announced today.
Case numbers soared last week, jumping 368% compared to the previous seven-day period, according to the Health Department. There were 138 active cases Dec. 22, up from 39 the week prior. As of Dec. 27, there are 200 active cases in Teton County.
And case investigators are struggling to keep up. As it stands, investigators will not be able to contact everyone who tests positive for COVID-19. Instead, they are prioritizing cases based on age, perceived risk of severe disease, live or work-in communal settings, or instances where there is concern of significant further spread of COVID-19 in the community, the Health Department said in a press release.
If you test positive for COVID-19 and do not get a phone call from the Health Department, here’s what the Health Department advises:
- Isolate yourself from everyone possible, including members of your household, stay home and don’t return to work until 10 days after your symptom onset.
- Notify all those who have been in close contact with you while you were sick or up to 48 hours prior to your onset of symptoms and let them know that they may have been exposed to COVID-19. Close contacts who have symptoms should get tested as soon as possible. Those who do not have symptoms should wait until at least 5 days after the exposure before they test.
- If you believe you are at high risk for severe disease, contact your healthcare provider for information and treatment options.
- As stated by the CDC, “look for emergency warning signs for COVID-19 such as trouble breathing, persistent pain or pressure in the chest, new confusion, inability to wake or stay awake, pale, gray, or blue-colored skin, lips or nail beds, or any other symptom that is concerning you. If someone is showing signs of any of these symptoms call 911 or seek emergency medical care.”
If you are notified that you may be a close contact of someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, please do one of the following:
- If you are fully vaccinated and not experiencing symptoms, monitor yourself for symptoms, get tested 5-7 days after the exposure, and wear a mask in all indoor settings until you get a negative test result, or it has been 14 days since the exposure.
- If you are not fully vaccinated and have no symptoms, you should quarantine and get tested 5 days after the exposure.
- If you are experiencing symptoms, you should isolate and get tested as soon as possible regardless of your vaccination status.
The Health Department expects the surge to continue over the coming weeks and urges everyone to follow precautions like wearing masks indoors, staying home and getting tested when sick, and getting vaccinated, including a booster, when eligible.
For additional information on what to do if you tested positive for COVID-19, what to do if you were a exposed to someone who tested positive for COVID-19, testing, vaccinations, and preventive measures, visit www.tetoncountywy.gov/2061/COVID-19.
Editor’s note: an earlier version of this story did not include case numbers, only percentages. It has been updated.
