Governor Mark Gordon and State Health Officer Dr. Alexia Harrist extended their orders to close down public places, like schools, restaurants and bars and forbid gatherings of more than 10 people until April 30. He also issued an order that people who are travelling to Wyoming should quarantine themselves for 14 days.
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Governor Mark Gordon and State Health Officer Dr. Alexia Harrist extended their orders to close down public places, like schools, restaurants and bars and forbid gatherings of more than 10 people until April 30. He also issued an order that people who are travelling to Wyoming should quarantine themselves for 14 days.
The orders were extended after the number of cases of COVID-19 jumped past 160 on Friday. During a press conference Friday afternoon, Gordon said all of the resources of the state government are working to slow down the spread of the novel coronavirus.
“We’re employing every asset we have to combat COVID-19,” he said. “I want to emphasize the point that we’re all making – we’re all saying stay home, wash your hands, and maintain a distance of six feet between yourselves. Only go to the store as an individual- not as a group, do not congregate in groups of more than 10.
“That is the behavior we need and that is why we agree. It is critical we behave this way.”
Harrist warned that people have seen what the worst-case scenario could look like if Wyoming citizens do not take the recommended precautions.
“It’s not an unknown. It’s not something we have to guess,” Harrist said. “Anyone who watches the news can see what happened in Italy and in other states in the United States. Our healthcare systems can be overloaded. There may be an inability for people even who don’t have COVID-19 to get appropriate care. Deaths that we could have prevented will occur. These are very serious consequences, but this is something we can prevent of we follow the Governor’s recommendations.”
“Anyone who feels safe had better think again,” Gordon said.
Gordon said he had no plans to issues a statewide stay at home or shelter in place order, as the order and guidelines already in place are already as restrictive as stay at home orders in other states.
“As I drove down Yellowstone (Road, in Cheyenne) today, there was only one business that was open that would have closed under the Colorado order,” he said.
“Colorado’s order has multiple pages of exceptions.
“Stay home. Practice extra hygiene. Practice social distancing by maintaining at least six feet between yourselves. Don’t mob stores or allow your kids to gather for playdates.”
