November 16, 2020 |
During a news conference Friday, Governor Mark Gordon expressed anger and frustration over rising coronavirus case count in Wyoming, as well as with the clusters of deaths reportedly related to the virus.
The Governor also expressed concerns about the impacts the spread of the virus is having on businesses, communities and hospitals.
The spike started in September. Since October 1st, the number of active cases has climbed from around 1,000 to 8,600 over the weekend. According to state health department data, Wyoming has averaged about 2,000 new positive lab results in each of the last two weeks.
The Wyoming Department of Health reports the death count at 144. The governor admitted Friday that he is under pressure to do something to stem the rising virus case count.
The state’s 23 county health officers sent Gordon a letter last week requesting that he enact a statewide face mask. The governor threatened stiffer regulations, but did not announce any new public health orders on Friday. The state public health officer was not at the news conference.
Gordon did use his bully pulpit. At different times during Friday’s, he angrily chided Wyoming residents. The governor even resorted to name calling.
Governor Gordon also said Wyoming residents are acting like “chickens with their heads cut off.” As a result, state resources, including those of hospitals are being tested.
In the last month, Wyoming has seen the most deaths of any period since the outbreak began in March. The Wyoming Department of Health reported 17 more deaths from virus-related complications on Saturday, mostly most among residents 65 or older with other life-threatening health conditions. The strain on hospital resources continues to be a driving concern. The governor said some hospitals in the state are facing capacity issues.
Since October 1st, the number of Covid-related hospitalizations in the state has jumped tenfold. During the month of September, the number of beds occupied by patients infected with the virus hovered around 20. On November 14th, the bed-count peaked at 202.
Yesterday, the Wyoming Department of Health website put the number of Covid-related beds at 195.
The governor admitted that neighboring states, even those with stricter public health orders than Wyoming, are also reporting an increase in hospitalizations. The Colorado Department of Health is averaging over 4,000 new cases a day across its state.
As of yesterday, Colorado health officials were reporting that 15 percent of that state’s hospital filled are occupied by patients who have tested positive for Covid, or who are believed to be infected.
Still, Governor Gordon said some Wyoming residents feel safer shopping and dining out in Colorado than in Wyoming.
Wyoming is reporting the fifth largest increase in cases in the nation. Taking a close look at the numbers, though, Wyoming does not compare unfavorably to Colorado. The death rate in Wyoming is half rate of Colorado’s. The rate of testing per population size is twice has high here than to our southern neighbor. Data on the website World-o-meters shows that Wyoming residents have been tested at a rate two times greater than their Colorado counterparts.
In comparing states, totals are presented using a ratio of “X” per one-million people. For instance, in Colorado, 249,000 Covid tests have been performed per 1 million in people. Twice that amount of testing has occurred in Wyoming with 558,000 tests per 1 million people.
Despite the higher testing rate, Wyoming’s caseload is only mildly higher. Wyoming is listed at 37,000 cases per one million. Colorado is lower at 27,000. If the rate of testing in Colorado was the same as Wyoming, its caseload might be higher. What we do know is that Colorado’s death rate is nearly double that of Wyoming’s. The death rate in Colorado is 438 per 1 million, compared to 249 per 1 million in the Cowboy State.
The governor expressed frustration with the push-back his office has received from around the state to the public health orders that have been issued over the last eight months.
Gordon said both the Thanksgiving and Christmas are at risk because of the virus. Some people are not going to be here at Christmas, he added. The governor said relying on residents to exercise personal responsibility to safeguard themselves from the virus has not worked. He warned that stiffer public health warnings could come as early as this week to stem further spread during the holidays.
The governor said any changes or tightening of public health orders have to be thought through and carefully examined. The governor added later that face masks can help, but they are not a solution.
Click here to visit the Wyoming Department of Health website
