Hospitalized Wyoming COVID Patients Ties Record

This story originally appeared on Cowboy State Daily.

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By Jim Angell, Cowboy State Daily

Despite a decline in the number of active coronavirus cases in Wyoming over the last week, the number of COVID-19 patients in hospitals around the state tied a record on Sunday.

The Wyoming Department of Health’s report said 235 coronavirus patients were in various hospitals on Sunday, the same number as were in hospitals on Nov. 21.

The number of active coronavirus cases around the state has dropped from a peak of 11,861 seen on Tuesday, Nov. 24, to 9,252 on Sunday, a decline of 2,609.

However, during the same period, the number of people being treated in hospitals for the illness grew by seven, from 228 to 235.

The highest number of coronavirus patients was found at the Cheyenne Regional Medical Center, 64, while 63 were being treated at Casper’s Wyoming Medical Center.

A major concern throughout the pandemic has been the strain the illness might put on hospitals, particularly intensive care unit rooms.

As of Sunday, the Cheyenne hospital had three open ICU rooms and Casper’s had two. Several smaller hospitals, including SageWest Health Care in Lander and Community Hospital Torrington, had no ICU rooms left as of Sunday.