Cowboy State Daily
Wyoming Business Leaders Tell Gov Gordon: “We Are Losing The Battle” On Covid
While members of Wyoming’s chambers of commerce agree something must be done to slow the spread of coronavirus in the state, they disagreed on how to accomplish that goal in an online meeting with Gov. Mark Gordon on Tuesday.
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By Bill Sniffin, publisher, Cowboy State Daily
While members of Wyoming’s chambers of commerce agree something must be done to slow the spread of coronavirus in the state, they disagreed on how to accomplish that goal in an online meeting with Gov. Mark Gordon on Tuesday.
Business owners uniformly expressed concern about the growing number of coronavirus cases in the state, but differed on the measures that should be implented by the state.
“In Natrona County, we are a mess, an absolute mess,” said Kim Devore of Casper’s Jonah Bank. “Our hospital is overrun. Daycares are closing. Businesses are closing. The curve is not stopping. It is going straight up. It seems awful easy to do a mask mandate. We cannot do it on our own, evidently.”
Dixie Johnson of the Sheridan Chamber of Commerce said restaurant owners in Sheridan are suffering because of the coronavirus pandemic. She added she would support a statewide order requiring the use of face masks over business closures.
But Shalee Harvey of Thermopolis, who just started a bakery with her husband, said she does not favor a mask mandate.
“Quality of life is important,” she said. “I will not let my business go under because we had to wear a mask. It should not depend on whether the government should say we are open or not.”
Gordon noted that a statewide mask requirement is a very political issue and added he would like to see the state work together, as it did earlier this year, to slow the spread of the illness.
“We brought this down back in the spring so we know we can deal with this again. I want us to have a Happy Thanksgiving and a Happy Christmas,” he said. “Working together we can do what is necessary so that we can come out in the spring and be OK.”
Gordon said because of his recent experience with coronavirus, he is confident face masks prevent the spread of the illness.
Gordon tested negative for the illness despite spending an entire day with a person who later tested positive. Both wore masks throughout the day.
If the state cannot somehow stem the spread of the illness, business could be forced to close, Gordon said.
“We have got to get a handle on it,” he said. “We have to maintain a productive workforce in the state. We have tried to use flexibility with the counties. And I have to take the blame for putting the county health officers in such a difficult position.”
Karlee Applegate, a health care worker in Casper, said the state must work harder to convince people to follow the basic steps needed to prevent the spread of COVID.
“We missed a primary opportunity at the beginning to teach people infection control practices,” she said. “That is the key to solving this. People have not been taught mask hygiene.”
Gordon wound up the meeting by saying “we all have rights and we all have responsibilities. We need both. We have to work together or we are sunk together.”
Scott
November 11, 2020 at 10:03 am
“Gordon noted that a statewide mask requirement is a very political issue”
Coronavirus, on the other hand, appears to be totally apolitical, it sickens and kills without regard to party membership.
Stange to be living in such an Alice in Wonderland period of time, with such real world health and economic consequences.
Mask mandates along with personable responsibility is a good first step.
Personal responsibility often requires some self sacrifice, for the good of all.
Nick Manning
November 11, 2020 at 10:35 am
I don’t believe any of this. It’s all a ruse to get Biden elected. I think anyone that goes to the hospital with the kung flu is a weak liberal. If a conservative dies of the kung flu they’re going right to heaven. That being said, I don’t think the china virus is real. The media tried to make it look like Trump caught the virus but that was fake news. He was in Florida golfing.
Becky Brown
November 12, 2020 at 8:42 am
I’d like to believe that this post is a hoax, a parody of all that’s wrong in Wyoming with our response to covid, and that no one could really be this ignorantly selfish of this world wide crisis. I’m afraid however that it’s probably not.
Becky Brown
November 12, 2020 at 9:13 am
Just to clarify, I was referring to Nick M’s post, not the article or any other comments!
David Stineman
November 12, 2020 at 4:00 pm
Seek help Nick
Olivia Cupant
November 11, 2020 at 11:08 am
I fail to see how a mask mandate would cause a bakery to shut down. Look at the Sheridan Donut Company. As far as I can tell (by how often they’re sold out completely early in the day), their business is booming and a mask mandate would have zero effect on them. They all wear masks and clearly take the virus seriously. If that idiot in Thermopolis thinks her bakery will close because people have to wear masks, well, maybe her business deserves to close. I have to wonder what health and safety guidelines she is ignoring because they might impact her “quality of life.”
Karen
November 11, 2020 at 11:53 am
So Gov Gordon , when you stated we have to work together or we are SUNK TOGETHER , are you saying you will be there to bail out all the business that are forced to close .Just mandated mask wearing and let’s
get this under more control !!!!!!!!
Stand up for what’s morally right , not politically correct.
I agree with Scott!!!!
Katee
November 11, 2020 at 3:45 pm
Governor Gordon you are giving the citizens of Wyoming way to much credit. If you read there is a comment above that states exactly why we need a mask mandate. Too many people in this state are hanging on to trumps false claims about the virus and it’s going to impact our community. I still walk into many stores and see way to many people not wearing masks. This behavior is absolutely ridiculous and wrong and needs to stop while we still have something to salvage and work with. Let’s not wait until we’re like El Paso where they are bringing in refrigerator trucks for all the bodies. And if you don’t think that will happen here keep going in the direction we’re going and our community will eventually find out what covid can do.
Edward
November 12, 2020 at 9:38 am
I carry a mask with me at all times. If i go somewhere that requires a mask, no big deal. The choise is simple, if you don’t want to wear a mask, don’t go in. Your rights and others rights carry the same weight. Its easy to be an ass. I believe there is a problem so I’ll be careful around others. Not a big inconvenience. Natural selection will weed out the weak minded and feeble.
Curt Figler
November 12, 2020 at 10:35 am
I have a mask with me at all times (I have a supply of N95 masks that I acquired after the H1N1 pandemic) and dutifully wear it if it’s required/requested by a business, knowing full well that masks do absolutely nothing to stem the spread of the virus. All viable (I.e., non-political) medical studies since the Spanish Flu pandemic have clearly shown that masks do nothing to prevent the spread of respiratory infections. They are a placebo, plain and simple. Human beings must feel they are in control and politicians are under pressure to “do something” to control the spread, even though the options at their disposal (mask mandates, curfews and lockdowns) do nothing. I applaud the Governor for not kowtowing to the terrified and the unknowing herd calling for controlling our lives with actions that have no benefit but extremely high costs.
Kristi David
November 12, 2020 at 11:34 am
Without some kind of mandates from Governor Gordon, we will just continue to get sick. In Campbell county at least, you can usually count on one hand how many mask wearers there are in any store or public place.
Our schools are running out of teachers and subs and my daughter tells me that her classes are maybe half attended due to virus. Yet, snickers were heard at the school board meeting when the rumors of school closing for a month after Thanksgiving were brought up.
We need your help Governor. While most Wyoming residents seem to still think it is a democratic hoax,or that the flu still kills at the same rate, some of us are scared for our families.
Cindy Livingston
November 12, 2020 at 1:14 pm
It is unbelievable how many people think that the Governor has to “mandate” anything to control the spread of the virus. Each person can and should make a choice to mask up before entering a business. Those of us who are responsible mask wearers will help keep the anti-maskers safe. That is how it works and we do not need a mandate. When it is raining we do not need the Governor to tell us to take an umbrella or to wear a raincoat, we make a choice to get wet or to stay dry (paraphrased statement by Governor Gordon 2020). However, here is something to think about: as adults, we are examples for the youth that we encounter. Keep that in mind when you make a choice to not wear a mask. Our youth are at risk too. People are very willing to accept that 1% or 2% of people who get the virus die…but what if it is your child, parent or grandparent.
Heather
November 12, 2020 at 6:34 pm
Nick is a dumbass. We’ll see how you feel about this very real pandemic when someone you love dies. Maybe try being less selfish and stupid and open your damn eyes. This is why its spreading in Wyoming.
Gary Gearhart
November 12, 2020 at 11:14 pm
I know for a fact why I didn’t get the virus, and wont it’s because The Holy Spirit is protecting me, exactly as the Bi le says. Trust the one who made you and not anything else, least he rebuke you. I say Faith first.