GOSHEN COUNTY – Goshen County Public Health (GCPH) reported 38 new laboratory confirmed COVID-19 cases between Dec. 21 and Dec. 28.

There has been a decline in active COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in the past month. As of press time Wednesday, there are 43 active cases in the county and 915 total lab confirmed cases, according to the Wyoming Department of Health (WDH). A GCPH press release reported 363 active cases roughly one month ago, on Nov. 30. Active COVID-19 cases counts are following statewide as well, with 1,470 throughout Wyoming’s 23 counties as of press time. 

According to Torrington Community Hospital CEO Zach Miller, 25% of patients are in for COVID-19 related complications as of press time.

“We have seen our numbers trending down for COVID positivity and admissions,” Miller wrote in an email to The Telegram. “We do continue to encourage all of our community to remain vigilant, wear a mask, keep distance between yourself and others, stay home when sick and wash hands to further reduce spread.”

GCPH started administering Moderna COVID-19 vaccines to healthcare personnel, law enforcement and other groups identified by WDH as priority recipients in phase 1a of the state’s vaccination plan. Goshen County has received 500 doses of the Moderna vaccine as of press time, said Heather Saul, GCPH emergency response coordinator.

Miller said roughly 50 hospital personnel have received vaccinations so far. He administered the hospital’s first COVID-19 vaccine to Erica Barrows-Nees, M.D., on Dec. 23, according to a Torrington Community Hospital Facebook post. 

“I and all of our medical staff are beyond excited to finally have a vaccine,” Miller said. “This is the one tool that will get us past and through the pandemic.”

GCPH also confirmed two additional COVID-19 related deaths in Goshen County this past week, bringing the county’s total to 15. Statewide, 405 Wyomingites have died since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, according to the WDH. 

In a press release, the Department of Corrections (DOC) reported 13 staff and three inmates tested positive for COVID-19 at Wyoming Medium Correctional Institution (WMCI) in Torrington last week. 

According to the state’s vaccination plan, DOC facilities are also currently set up to receive, store and manage doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, and will be able to vaccinate people who are incarcerated. 

Julie Tennant-Caine, deputy administrator for support services with the DOC, said the DOC is coordinating with local public health offices to determine how many vaccines will be allocated to each facility. Their contracted medical provider has been authorized to administer the COVID-19 vaccine, she said, but it is uncertain when they will be available to WMCI. 

Statewide health orders mandating face coverings in indoor public spaces and closure of restaurants and bars between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. are scheduled to expire Jan. 8.