News
Statewide Mask Mandate and Health Order Changes Take Effect Wednesday
Increased deaths and challenges to hospital capacity in Wyoming lead to new actions to fight the spread of the virus. Sheridan Media’s Ron Richter has the details.
With hospitals in Wyoming seeing record numbers of hospitalized COVID-19 patients and rising deaths, Governor Mark Gordon has announced a new approach that protects the public and keeps schools and businesses open. According to the Governor’s office, this includes requiring face coverings in certain indoor public settings in all Wyoming counties, reducing group sizes, and reducing hours of businesses where COVID-19 transmission is more likely to occur.
The statewide mask mandate and new health orders have been signed by State Health Officer Dr. Alexia Harrist and take effect Wednesday, December 9 and extend through January 8 of next year. Sixteen Wyoming counties already have county-level orders requiring face coverings. Little will change in those counties, as local officials continue to have authority to administer the face covering requirement in their community. Under the new orders, bars and restaurants will be closed from 10 pm to 5 am for onsite consumption. Groups of patrons seated together at bars, restaurants, theaters, concert halls, and large events will be limited to six. Group workout classes at gyms will be limited to 10 individuals, and gatherings without required distancing will be limited to 10 individuals.
With federal CARES Act funding scheduled to expire at the end of the month, the Governor said the use of face coverings is a cost-effective tool that can help reduce hospitalizations and keep businesses and schools open until a COVID-19 vaccine is widely available. Wyoming reported 128 COVID-19 deaths in November, the highest number since the pandemic began in March. The decision to extend the face covering requirement statewide was endorsed by the Wyoming Medical Society, the Wyoming Primary Care Association and the Wyoming Hospital Association. The new orders and face covering requirement can be viewed here: COVID-19 Information – Governor’s Orders (wyo.gov)
Edward Capp
December 8, 2020 at 8:50 am
The mandatory mask is one thing, but to put a curfew on restaurants and bars? That is insane! I am not a bar owner, but I can assume pretty easily that late evening is when they make their money. This is going to hurt some local establishments dearly.
What research has been done to back up this curfew? Does the Covid bug become more active at 10pm? I believe this curfew is more about a power hungry politician stretching his power. Bad move Governor.
mark steingass
December 8, 2020 at 9:54 am
Edward,…you make some valid points perhaps we as a society need to evaluate more closely the demographics (effects) on particular segments of the population with relation to a pandemic (in general) because this Covid pandemic will most likely not be the last one because of overpopulation and lack of hygiene especially in third world countries then target prevention strategy…economic loss to communities and government should be taken seriously but so should protecting the vulnerable population
paul verley
December 8, 2020 at 12:29 pm
mark, you make a valid point… how many of the “at risk” population are at the local bar after 10pm? probably very few if any….. I hope someone can give a logical explanation on the curfew.
mark steingass
December 8, 2020 at 1:08 pm
there are no easy answers and this is unchartered territory…the only logical explanation for curfew is that it’s a method to lower the infection rate by reducing the amount of close personal contact (in bars, and gyms for example) which is a “higher risk” environment with the intended result of reduced viral spread in the overall population….viral spread comes from all aspects of our closely associated society
Mitch Smith
December 8, 2020 at 3:55 pm
Paul, the reason for the 10pm curfew, is that the Governor only believes the virus spreads AFTER 10pm.
Jeannie Julian
December 10, 2020 at 1:58 pm
It has been researched extensively and as many of us know, as we drink alcohol are inhibitions lesson, so we may talk louder (which can spread the virus in bigger doses), be less apt to wear a mask, talk closer to people, etc. This is an important risk factor to consider and allows kids to stay in school, businesses, in general, to stay open even if it is only until 10pm for bars.
Sharon Thompson
December 10, 2020 at 4:12 pm
So what happens to those that don’t follow your plan? NOTHING! They won’t change without some sort of punishment.