JACKSON, Wyo. — Governor Mark Gordon announced on Saturday, Jan. 2 that bars and restaurants will be able to return to normal operating hours beginning Jan. 9. The Governor cited his decision on the decline in COVID-19 hospitalizations around the state.

“Thank you to the people of Wyoming who recognized the strain on their hospitals and health care workers and acted accordingly,” Governor Gordon said. “I also want to express my gratitude to those businesses that adapted to these temporary measures. These have not been easy times for anyone. We are not out of the woods yet, but continued personal safety measures while the vaccine is being distributed will enable our state’s schools and businesses to continue to remain open.”

The details of the order allow bars and restaurants to resume onsite consumption from 10 pm to 5 am. The updated orders also permit gyms to increase the number of participants in group fitness classes from 10 to 25.

The Wyoming Department of Health will continue to evaluate metrics as the state emerges from the holiday season. Counties can still opt out of the requirements if local conditions move to safer levels in accordance with White House metrics.

On December 30, Wyoming hospitals were reporting 113 hospitalized COVID-19 patients, down from a peak of 247 on November 30. However, the state reported 223 COVID-19 deaths in December, the highest number since the pandemic began in March. Wyoming has also begun distributing the COVID-19 vaccine, utilizing a phased approach due to limited initial vaccine availability.

The updated health orders, along with additional information on Wyoming’s COVID-19 vaccination plan, can be found on Wyoming’s COVID-19 website. Copies of the orders, which are effective January 9 and expire on January 25, are also attached.