TORRINGTON – Mayor Randy Adams affirmed last week the city of Torrington will abide by guidance passed down from healthcare professionals regarding the recommendation people should wear face coverings – masks – in public spaces where maintaining a six-foot social distance is difficult to slow the spread of COVID-19. 

Earlier the same the day, the Goshen County Board of Commissioners issued a non-binding resolution that states the county will not issue a mask mandate. It can be overridden by a state order and doesn’t undo current state public health orders. 

Adams read off the latest case numbers – there have been 16 cases in Goshen County, and there are eight active cases. Four new cases were announced in the city of Torrington on Monday. 

“With that awareness, the city of Torrington will continue to wear masks at council meetings, and city of Torrington staff will wear them anywhere that they might have personal space violated,” Adams said. “The city of Torrington would like to issue a reminder to the public of their expectation of personal responsibility during the parade and the fair.”

Four new cases of COVID-19 last week marked the largest jump in local cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The new cases are a part of a jump in local case counts in the last two weeks. 

There have been no local deaths, according to data from the Wyoming Department of Health. The WDH reported that 1,475 Goshen County residents have been tested. 

The new cases are in adults. The 13th case is a female in her early 30s. The 14th is a male in his mid-30s. The 15th is a female in her late 20s. The 16th case is a female in her early 40s. All of the new patients are residents of Torrington. 

The WDH reports that as of Sunday morning, there have been 2,533 lab-confirmed cases in Wyoming, and 517 probable cases. There have been 28 lives lost statewide, and 75,827 people have been tested. 2,465 people have recovered from the novel coronavirus. 

Adams said he discussed COVID-19 protocol with Goshen County Fairgrounds manager Stefanie Lofink, and he said fair officials did their best to promote safety during last week’s fair events. 

“The parade and the fair will follow CDC guidelines of recommending that the public wash their hands frequently, respect the space of others and maintain social distancing. Masks are recommended, but not required.” 

Adams said there will be some non-traditional aspects as it pertains to the fair. The Goshen County Fair Parade was held last week, and the absence of candy flying from the floats to the spectators along the route was one of the major differences.  

“No candy is going to be thrown for the children to gather up,” he said. “Participants will take special precautions set forth by the public health officials. Mainly, the fair board requested that everyone should be willing to take full responsibility for themselves and for others.”