WyoFile: Week 43 of the pandemic in Wyoming (Jan. 2-8)
Counter-protester Russell Richard stands across the street from a rally protesting state health regulations on Jan. 4, in Cheyenne. (Dan Cepeda, Oil City)
Following several weeks of declines, Wyoming’s COVID-19 infections began to creep back up this week, with active cases increasing for four consecutive days.
The Department of Health, meanwhile, reported 51 additional COVID-related deaths more than 10% of the 489 casualty tally since the pandemic’s onset.
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Against this backdrop, Wyoming’s COVID-19 vaccination rollout continued at a slow pace as healthcare providers wrestled with complex logistics and a holiday lull. As of Thursday, the state had administered 9,085 first-dose shots, only 39% of the 25,775 vaccinations it has received, according to the DOH. Some 526 second-dose shots had also been given.
The Wyoming Department of Health reported 406 new cases of COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, bringing the statewide total to 39,882. 41 new cases were reported for Natrona County, bringing the current number of active cases in Natrona County to 156.
According to WDH spokesperson Kim Deti, Deaths among Wyoming residents are added to the state’s total based on official death certificate information and location of permanent residence. If death certificates do not describe COVID-19 as either causing or contributing to a death, those deaths are not included in the WDH count.
The Wyoming Department of Health reported 263 new cases of COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, bringing the statewide total to 39,476. 22 new cases were reported for Natrona County, leaving the current number of active cases in Natrona County at 148.