Johnson County EOC Latest Media Release

The Johnson County Emergency Operations Center released their latest update Thursday evening.

JOHNSON COUNTY HEALTHCARE CENTER

WYOMING COVID-19 STATUS

• Wyoming has 53 confirmed cases, a significant uptick in the last 24 hours. More than half are located in Fremont and Laramie Counties.
• Patient Care
• JCHC has the ability to produce its own “transport media,” the solution used to hold the swab sample during transport. That ability increases the total testing capacity to 146.

Community Volunteers Needed

JCHC is looking for people who can sew protective gowns and for people who can create a face shield for our employees. Please go to JCHC’s website at www.jchealthcare.com for instructions on how you can help.

Blood Drive

• Healthy people are strongly encouraged to donate blood during this time due to the growing blood supply shortage across the country. A blood drive will occur on April 20 from 12:30 – 6:00pm at the Johnson County Fairgrounds. Contact www.bloodhero.com for information and to make an appointment.

JOHNSON COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT

Johnson County School District Superintendent Jim Wagner announced today that no students will be allowed back in the building until at least April 13, a one week extension of the current break. A letter has been sent to all staff and parents.

JOHNSON COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

The Johnson County Commissioners resolved to reduce access to county facilities in the following ways:

• The Historic Courthouse is closed to all nonessential public traffic..Business can be conducted via mail, phone, online applications, or a dropbox that has been installed in the parking lot… The west parking lot entrance remains open for essential visits only. Only one person will be admitted at a time.
• The Johnson County Judicial Center is closed to the public. To arrange essential visits, contact the respective Clerks of Court or the County Attorney’s office via phone.. A drop box for documents and payments is being installed.
• The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office has reduced services as follows:
  • Applications for Concealed Carry Permits will not be accepted. Please call for information about other services.
  • Notary services are available Monday through Friday, 8am to 5pm, from the Sheriff’s Office only.
  • Contact visits between inmates and non-essential personnel have been suspended.
  • AA, Church, and Ministerial visits will be conducted via video.
  • Mental Health Counselors and Attorneys are permitted via visitation booths, video, and phone conferencing.
  • Fingerprinting has been suspended.
  • Tours have been suspended.
• The following public areas and/or buildings are closed to the public:
  • The Johnson County Planning Office
  • Harold Jarrard Park
  • The Johnson County Fairgrounds
  • The Administrative Office of Road and Bridge
  • The Johnson County Extension Office
  • The Jim Gatchell Museum building. Call or visit via social media.
  • The Johnson County Library, Buffalo and Kaycee branches. Call or visit via social media.
  • The Recycling Center
  • Bomber Mountain Civic Center

SENIOR CENTER

• The Buffalo Area Transportation System will be suspending all non-essential bus rides. We will provide transportation only for those who have medical appointments. Riders will be screened. Grocery store and Food Pantry pickups will continue. Prescription Drug pickup available on a case-by-case basis. For more information please call 307-684-9551.
• Kaycee residents over 60 may request meal delivery by calling the County Inn Cafe at (307) 738-2291.

Prior Updates

GOVERNOR’S OFFICE

Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon urged Wyomingites to stay home whenever possible. Voluntary public actions could alleviate the need to implement more stringent measures.

WYOMING DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

• U.S. Attorney Mark A. Klaassen of the District of Wyoming urges the public to report suspected fraud schemes related to COVID-19 by calling the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) hotline (1-866-720-5721) or emailing NCDF at disaster@leo.gov.

JOHNSON COUNTY HEALTHCARE CENTER

• JCHC anticipates that Telehealth Services will be available by Monday, 3/30/20
• Patients should call before arriving at JCHC. Patients or visitors must enter the facility through Main Entrance or Emergency Entrance only.
• As early as next week, JCHC plans to open a separate service on its campus to screen and evaluate people in their vehicles. Additional information is forthcoming regarding the criteria and process.

THE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER MENTAL HEALTH UNIT

• The Emergency Operations Center Mental Health Unit has prepared an updated list of community mental health professionals. Contact the E.O.C. for further information.

NORTHERN WYOMING MENTAL HEALTH CENTER

• Northern Wyoming Mental Health remains open via telehealth services, but will limit face-to-face appointments through 4/3/2020; those in crisis situations may still request in-house services.

• All NWMH clinical staff have joined Wyoming Telehealth Network and have established HIPAA-compliant Zoom accounts. NWMH is connecting clients with virtual recovery services such as on-line AA/NA meetings.

BUFFALO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

• The Chamber Office is currently closed. The Chamber will send e-blasts with resources for employers and employees as they work to combat the Coronavirus. It will include information from the CDC, the State, and the US Chamber. Local businesses may send information regarding your new policies to info@buffalowyo.com. The Chamber will share your information.

• The Governor has announced that small businesses impacted by COVID19 may now apply for loans. Contact your SBDC regional director at

  Home

• The SBDC website also has COVID-19 small business resources. Wyoming Business Council regional directors can help businesses navigate assistance needs and options. Contact information can be found at https://wyomingbusiness.org/contactus.

COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS

The EOC would like to thank all the community volunteers and people donating items to agencies such as the Bread of Life Food Pantry, Friends Feeding Friends, and People Helping People. Thank you to the YMCA for sending workers to help the Bread of Life Food Pantry

EOC releases will be published daily as needed.

For the most current information, please visit www.johnsoncountywyoming.org/covid-19.
There has been a COVID-19 response email set up for Johnson County: jcwycovid19eoc@gmail.com.
For further questions, contact the Johnson County Emergency Operations Center:  307-425-6560.