JACKSON, Wyo. — The Teton County Health Department (TCHD) announced today that the county has moved down to the yellow, or low, risk level for COVID-19.
The decrease from the orange (moderate) risk level has resulted from continued improvements in some of the local COVID-19 metrics, including the total number of new cases along with improvements at the hospital.
As of April 23, Teton County has averaged three new cases per day for the past seven days. There have been 60 new cases in the past two weeks, which is a 39% decrease from the previous two-week period.
Teton County Health Department has worked with St. John’s Health to adjust the hospital metrics used to determine Teton County, WY’s COVID-19 Risk Level because the situation at the hospital has changed since these metrics were first developed and they no longer show the complete picture of the hospital’s capacity as it relates to COVID-19.
Previously, the number of patients recently hospitalized with COVID-19 (hospital admissions), the percentage of primary care unit beds available (PCU bed availability), and the percentage of intensive care unit beds available (ICU bed availability) were used as the hospital’s metrics. Going forward these metrics will be adjusted to the following:
1) The number of COVID-19 patients in the PCU (PCU admissions) and
2) The number of COVID-19 patients in the ICU or transferred to Idaho/Utah (ICU admissions and transfers).
The changes were made because the TCHD says that St. John’s can now safely accommodate greater inpatient capacity due to staff vaccination and PPE procurement improvements. To see a complete list of Teton County’s COVID-19 metrics please visit, http://www.tetoncountywy.gov/
The Teton County Health Department asks community members to review the recommendations that come with the Yellow (Low) Risk Level including: keeping social gatherings small, avoiding crowded indoor spaces, limiting contact with high-risk individuals, and following precautions such as six-foot distancing and wearing a mask.
At this time anyone 16+ who lives or works in Teton County, WY can book a COVID vaccine appointment. Walk-ins are welcome from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. any day the clinic is operating.
