WYOMING — Wyoming State Health Officer Alexia Harrist signed two statewide health orders today, March 12. The orders go into effect on March 16, with an expiration date of March 31, unless extended or revoked.
Public Health Order #4, the statewide order for mask use is set to expire March 15 and will not be renewed. The Wyoming Department of Health (WDH) recommends the continued use of face masks in indoor public places and when common-sense physical distancing cannot be maintained among people who don’t live in the same household.
Restrictions related to restaurants, bars, gymnasiums, and theaters are being removed from the public health orders as well.
“With fewer cases, hospitalizations, and deaths at this point, our overall situation related to the pandemic is encouraging,” said Dr. Alexia Harrist, state health officer, and state epidemiologist with WDH. “But COVID-19 has not yet gone away so we need to act with caution and personal responsibility for a while longer to ensure progress in the right direction while our vaccination efforts continue.”
Harrist signed Public Health Order #2, regarding large indoor events of more than 500 people. the order removes the personal gathering restrictions but continues to apply restrictions to large indoor events of more than 500 people. There are now no restrictions for outdoor events.
Harrist also signed the 23 continuation of state-wide public health orders regarding child care facilities, k-12 schools, colleges, universities, and trade schools.
Harrist noted mask use and other requirements related to schools are not changing. “Keeping Wyoming’s students in classrooms remains a critical priority. It’s a setting where masks and other practices have clearly been effective,” she said.
Child care facilities are expected to screen staff and children for symptoms of COVID-19 at the beginning of each day, maintain a record of staff, follow CDC hygiene guidelines, and outlines pick-up and drop-off guidelines.
K-12 schools, colleges, universities, and trade schools may return to on-site instruction with groups of students limited to 50 people in each room with 6-ft of separation. 250 people will be allowed in rooms that allow 6 ft of separation, including auditoriums, cafeterias, gymnasiums. Face coverings are required.
Both orders continue to authorize countywide variances to the restrictions within the order if approved by the County Health Officer and the State Health Officer.
More than 127,000 individuals in Wyoming have received at least their first dose of vaccine when state and special federal counts are combined.
“The free, safe and effective vaccines we have available are being administered throughout the state and are helping us get past this pandemic and closer to ‘normal,’” Harrist said. “I encourage everyone to get vaccinated when it is their turn.”
“Testing to identify COVID-19 infections is another important strategy to help ensure the pandemic doesn’t get away from us. We don’t want anyone with symptoms to hesitate to get tested,” Harrist said. “We’ve worked to support testing across the state and to add testing options.”
