First Wyoming COVID-19 death recorded in Johnson County

Staff report
Posted 4/13/20

Wyoming has seen its first COVID-19-related death.

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First Wyoming COVID-19 death recorded in Johnson County

Posted

A patient in Johnson County has become the first COVID-19-related death in Wyoming. 

According to a press release from the Wyoming Department of Health, the patient was an older male with previous health conditions that put him at a higher risk of a severe case of the novel coronavirus. 

State Health Officer Dr. Alexia Harrist said the state’s measures against COVID-19 were created to prevent as many deaths as possible. 

“This is a sad development we hoped we wouldn’t see in Wyoming and we want this person’s family to know they have our sympathy,”Harrist said. “The advice we’ve been offering and actions we’ve taken ultimately come down to preventing as many serious illnesses and deaths connected to this disease as we can.”

Harrist said that while many patients diagnosed with COVID-19 are able to recover at home, there are factors that can amplify a coronavirus infection. 

“While we’ve learned most people who are infected are able to recover at home without medical care, we also know people who are aged 65 and older and people who have medical conditions such as heart disease, lung disease, diabetes and weak immune systems are more likely to experience complications and become severely ill,” she said. 

Anyone can get sick with COVID-19 and develop a serious illness - and pass it on, the release said. 

Personal actions that can help avoid the spread of COVID-19 include:

  •         Follow current public health orders, which encourage staying home as much as possible.
  •         Stay home when sick and avoid contact with other people unless you need medical attention.
  •         Follow common-sense steps such as washing your hands often and well; covering your coughs and sneezes; and cleaning and disinfecting.