Find the latest news about the novel coronavirus and COVID-19 in Wyoming here. This post will be updated daily, with newer information at the top.
You can find information specific to Wyoming from the Wyoming Department of Health, as well as updates from the CDC and tips for preventing and dealing with COVID-19.
Update 5/14/2020 5:25 P.M.
Wyoming is reporting 529 confirmed and 172 probable cases of the COVID-19 illness.
The Casper Star Tribune reports three new cases come from Fremont county and one from Carbon and Lincoln county.
487 people have recovered. Seven people have died.
Wyoming restaurants, movie theaters and childcare centers may start reopening tomorrow (5/15) under conditions to limit the spread of COVID-19. Workers will be required to wear face coverings, undergo screenings and increase sanitation measures. Businesses will be able to increase public gatherings up to 25 people under these conditions
Governor Mark Gordon announced 17 million dollars in allocated federal funds to prevent further spreading. 15 million dollars will go to the state department of health for increased testing and contact tracing.
Two million dollars will go to the state office of Homeland security for increased access to PPE to businesses and entities across the state.
Update 5/13/2020 4:00 P.M.
Wyoming is reporting 523 laboratory-confirmed cases and 165 probable cases of the COVID-19 illness.
The Casper Star Tribune reports eight of these new cases come from Fremont county and one from Laramie, Natrona and Teton county each.
One case from Campbell county has been subtracted. 480 people have recovered. Seven people have died.
Update 5/12/20, 3:50 P.M.
Wyoming is reporting 513 laboratory-confirmed cases and 162 probable cases of the COVID-19 illness.
477 people have recovered. Seven people have died.
Update 05/11/20, 3:00 P.M.
Wyoming is reporting 510 lab-confirmed cases and 159 probable cases of COVID-19.
The Casper Star Tribune reports nine of the latest cases are in Fremont, Lincoln and Laramie counties.
451 have recovered.
COVID-19 related deaths in Wyoming remain at seven.
Update 05/05/2020 7:00 P.M.
Wyoming is reporting 452 lab-confirmed and 152 probable cases of the COVID-19 illness. 409 people have recovered. Seven people have died.
Update 04/30/2020 3:51 P.M.
Wyoming is reporting 415 lab-confirmed and 144 probable cases of the covid-19 illness.
373 people have recovered. Seven people have died.
Governor Mark Gordon announced yesterday(Apr. 29), he’s extending the state’s self-quarantine directive until May 8.
The directive instructs anyone entering the state for non-work-related purposes to self-quarantine for 14 days.
Update 04/29/2020 3:53 P.M.
Wyoming is reporting 404 lab confirmed and 140 probable cases of covid-19.
371 people have recovered. Seven people have died.
A day after announcing certain businesses will be allowed to reopen May 1, Governor Mark Gordon announced on Wednesday during a press conference that state parks and campgrounds will open on May 15 to Wyoming residents only.
All K-12 schools, colleges, universities and trade schools will remain closed until May 18 by state order.
Some school districts across the state have decided to remain closed for the rest of the semester. The Gillette News Record reports that school officials from Casper, Pine Ridge and Powell will continue with at-home lessons.
Update 04/24/2020 4:21 P.M.
The Wyoming health department is reporting 396 lab confirmed and 140 probable cases of the covid-19 illness.
362 people have recovered. Seven people have died.
Governor Mark Gordon on Apr. 28 announced that gyms, barber shops and salons, and other personal care services may reopen May 1, with limits on the number of patrons and a requirement for staff to wear face coverings.
Locker rooms will remain closed.
Child care and home day care centers may also reopen May 1, with groups limited to fewer than 10 people.
A public health order limiting public gatherings to 10 people or fewer has been extended through May 15.
Another directive requiring travelers coming into the state to self quarantine for 14 days is under review for extension. The quarantine requirement is set to expire Apr. 30.
Update 04/23/2020 3:00 P.M.
Wyoming is reporting 332 confirmed and 121 probable cases of COVID-19.
The number of deaths in the state has increased to seven.
The state health department reports a man from Teton county, who tested positive and was hospitalized outside Wyoming, died on Apr. 22 from pre existing conditions that put him at a high risk for illness.
On Apr. 23, Gov. Mark Gordon announced State Health Officer Alexia Harrist next week will release a plan to ease statewide public health orders in phases prior to their expiration on April 30.
In a press release, Gordon said county health officers can submit county specific reopening plans for state approval that can be more or less restrictive than the state’s.
In coordination with the executive branch, the state health department released a dashboardoutlining six metrics to help determine these new orders on the same day.
Update 04/22/2020 2:30 P.M.
Wyoming is reporting 326 confirmed and 121 probable cases of COVID-19.
On Apr. 22, Gov. Mark Gordon announced that the state is beginning to look at reducing some restrictions on Wyoming businesses. In an interview on Fox News, he said they were looking into re-opening businesses like barbers and beauty salons to expand the amount of professions able to work.
This came a day after Gordon engaged with about 100 protestors in Cheyenne on Monday to address their concerns on local businesses.
Update 04/21/2020 4:00 P.M.
According to the Wyoming Department of Health, there are currently 322 confirmed and 119 probable cases of COVID-19 in Wyoming.
Governor Mark Gordon announced four people from the Northern Arapaho Tribe died on Apr. 21, bringing the state’s total to six.
The Casper Star Tribune reports Casper Mayor Steve Freel announced on Apr. 17 that Casper police have received over 20 reports of people not following targeted closure orders put in place to slow the spread of the coronavirus in Wyoming.
According to the Casper Star Tribune, Natrona County Health Officer Dr. Mark Dowell may recommend a shelter in place order in Wyoming if Governor Gordon does not.
Jackson and the tribes on the Wind River Reservation are the only communities in Wyoming actively implementing a shelter in place order.
Update 04/20/2020 4:00 P.M.
Wyoming is reporting 317 laboratory confirmed cases of COVID-19 illness and 111 probable cases.
There have been two COVID-19 related deaths.
The Wyoming Department of Health says some negative tests may not be counted if performed in private laboratories.
Wyoming is 52 on the list of U.S. states and territories with the most cases.
Update 04/19/2020 6:00 P.M.
Wyoming is reporting 319 confirmed and 113 probable cases of the COVID-19 illness caused by the novel coronavirus. 233 people have made full recoveries. Deaths remain at two.
The Casper Star Tribune reports two women have violated quarantine recommendations. One is an employee of the Wyoming Behavioral Health Institute in Casper. The other is also a healthcare worker. Both attended several house parties last weekend after taking a COVID-19 test that came back positive.
Over half of the cases in Natrona County have come from Wyoming Behavioral Health. The CDC sent a team of five people to investigate last week. No new information has been released.
Wyoming Behavioral Health is home to the state’s third largest coronavirus cluster. The first cluster happened at the Showboat Retirement Center in Fremont County. The second cluster happened at the Wyoming Medical Center which is used as a referral hospital for rural towns
Glenrock school district has implemented ideas to get internet access to all their students. Superintendent Coley Shadricks commented that they are delivering hot spots to families and fitting buses with Wi-Fi to allow their students to participate in online learning.
Gillette News Record reports Apr. 18 the Cam-plex was overflowing with cars waiting in line for groceries. The Wyoming Food bank of the Rockies’ mobile drive had enough food to feed 800 families, giving each almost 75 pounds of food.
Update 04/18/2020 12:15 P.M.
There are now 309 confirmed and 113 probable cases of the novel coronavirus in Wyoming as of Apr. 18. 2 deaths have been confirmed. 206 people have made full recoveries.
The Casper Star-Tribune reports the Wind River Reservation tribes have issued a shelter-in-place order, becoming the second place in Wyoming to do so after Teton County.
Gov. Mark Gordon said Apr. 17 plans to reopen the state would align with health-data and not by date data.
Park County’s Health Order expired on Apr. 17. This allows daycares and golf course clubs to reopen with strict limits of 10 or less people in the buildings at all times.
Planet Jackson Hole reports Cowboy State Volunteers flew private planes to deliver COVID-19 tests around the state.
Travis Riddell, Jackson WY Health Officer, reports they are sending fecal samples to Massachusetts Institute of Technology to test for prevalence of coronavirus in the community. He says this will be a way of surveillancing if and when the virus will try and make a comeback.
Update 04/17/ 3:00 P.M.
Wyoming has 305 confirmed and 107 probable cases of the COVID-19 illness.
The state has two confirmed deaths. Both cases were older men, one in Johnson County and one in Laramie County.
21 counties in Wyoming have at least one case. Laramie county has the most cases, with 69.
Update 04/16/2020 at 3:30 P.M.:
The Wyoming Health Department is reporting 296 confirmed and 105 probable cases of the COVID-19 illness. 187 people have recovered.
Small businesses across Wyoming have begun receiving financial aid through the federal Paycheck Protection Program. The Casper Star-Tribune reports over 5,700 businesses were awarded $707 million.
These funds come prior to the announcement on Apr. 16 that the Small Business Administration had reached its limit of $349 billion for the rescue loan program.
Update 04/15/2020 at 4:00 P.M.:
Wyoming early this morning announced the state’s second death from the COVID-19 illness.
The Casper Star-Tribune reports the man was from Laramie County and that he was older in age. The state health department is reporting 288 confirmed and 105 probable cases of the COVID-19 illness. 176 people have recovered.
The Jackson Hole Daily reports Teton County’s health officer and state officials sparred repeatedly over mandated stay-at-home orders.
Emails obtained through a Wyoming Public Records Act request show Teton County Health Officer Dr. Travis Riddell pushed state leaders to enact stricter measures sooner. Riddell wrote individual communities with more stringent orders have effectively slowed the spread of the novel coronavirus.
The Daily reports state leaders said the goal of those types of orders is to “protect public health” but reduce the impacts of doing so.
Wyoming remains one of eight states that has not issued a state-wide stay-at-home order. Teton County currently has the second-most confirmed cases in the state with 59.
Update 04/14/2020 at 8:30 P.M.:
Wyoming is reporting 282 confirmed and 101 probable cases of the COVID-19 illness. One person has died. 164 people have recovered.
The Gillette News Record reports Campbell County Health is predicting the novel coronavirus will continue to spread and that Wyoming’s surge will start in the last week of April. Dr. Nick Stamanto, chief of medical staff for Campbell County Health, predicts peak week in the first or second week of May in Wyoming.
The Casper Star Tribune announced on Apr. 14 that a team from the CDC has been sent to Wyoming to help Wyoming health officials in dealing with the coronavirus and trying to slow its spread.
The five member CDC team in Wyoming will focus on data analysis, prevention and containment in long term care facilities, help in preventing the spread of the virus between Wyoming’s Native American tribes, and trying to understand a little bit more about where people are contracting the disease if they do get it.
Update 04/13/2020 at 3:00 P.M.:
The first COVID-19 related death in Wyoming occured Apr. 13.
The Casper Star Tribune reports the man lived in Johnson county. He was older and had health conditions that put him at higher risk. The man’s identity has not been released. Wyoming was the last state with no COVID-19 related deaths.
According to the Wyoming State Health Department, there are currently 275 laboratory confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 98 probable cases.
21 counties in Wyoming have at least one case. 37 people have fully recovered.
Update 04/09/2020 at 3:30 P.M.:
Wyoming is reporting 239 known cases of the COVID-19 illness caused by the novel coronavirus.
The state department of health also reports 81 probable cases and 94 recovered cases.
On Apr. 9 around noon, a group of around 20 people gathered in a Casper park to protest the ordinances by Gov. Mark Gordon and State Health Officer Alexia Harrist preventing citizens from working certain jobs.
The Casper Star Tribune reports that the local political group Natrona County Campaign for Liberty sent out a message on Facebook to, “... stand for freedom and self-governance.” Signs at the protest included the phrases like “Defend Liberty” and “Don’t Flatten the Economy.”
Meanwhile, the Jackson Hole Daily reports that a petition for Gordon to approve Teton County’s request for a mandatory stay-at-home order has garnered about 2,000 signatures.
Teton currently has the second highest total of cases among Wyoming counties and the highest infection rate per-capita in the state.
Update 04/08/2020 at 4:00 P.M.:
Wyoming is reporting 221 known cases of the COVID-19 illness, though health officials say more people who haven’t been tested may have it.
The Wyoming Tribune Eagle reports that new cases have come from Laramie, Teton, Washakie and Sweetwater counties since Apr. 7.
The number of recovered patients is currently 62.
In a press conference on Apr. 8, Governor Mark Gordon announced he sent a request for a major disaster declaration for Wyoming along with the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho tribes.
He says this would provide assistance from the U.S. Army Corps of engineers in building emergency medical facilities if needed.
Over 1,000 cloth masks disappeared from the Wyoming Medical Center in Casper on the night of Apr. 7 after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advised wearing them in public at all times.
The Casper Star-Tribune reports it is currently unknown if the face coverings were stolen. The hospital intends to locate them.
Update 04/07/20 at 4:30 P.M.:
Wyoming is reporting 216 known cases of the COVID-19 illness, though health officials say there are likely more cases that haven’t been confirmed through testing.
Governor Mark Gordon passed a new directive on Friday saying anyone coming into Wyoming from another state or country should self-quarantine for 14 days.
Gordon also amended guidance for restaurants offering delivery and takeout that allows for only curbside service -- customers are no longer to enter the business.
Wyoming Health Officer Dr. Alexia Harrist recommends Wyoming residents to wear face coverings in public following recent updated guidance from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
A juvenile in the Natrona County juvenile detention center has tested positive for COVID-19. The juvenile is being isolated.
Updated at 04/06/20 at 4:00 P.M.
Wyoming has 210 confirmed cases of the COVID-19 illness as of Apr. 6.
The cases are located in 17 counties, with Laramie County leading at 44 known cases.
There have been NO COVID-19 related deaths in Wyoming.
According to the Wyoming State Health Department, 52 people have recovered.
Updated 04/03/20 at 4:00 P.M.
Wyoming has 162 confirmed cases of COVID-19 as of Apr. 3. The cases are in 17 counties across the state with Laramie County leading at 37.
Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon and State Health Officer Dr. Alexia Harrist are extending the statewide health orders to Apr. 30.
The orders prohibit gatherings of ten people or more in a confined space and close public spaces like schools, bars, restaurants, coffee shops and some personal service businesses. Restaurants will still be able to provide delivery and carry-out service.
Governor Gordon is emphasizing that Wyoming citizens should stay at home unless absolutely necessary to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Updated 04/01/20 at 4 P.M.:
The Wyoming Health Department is reporting 130 confirmed cases of the COVID-19 illness caused by the novel coronavirus. Over 2,100 tests have been conducted from the Wyoming Public Health Laboratory, the CDC lab and various commercial labs.
Out of these confirmed cases, 31 have made full recoveries.
Wyoming House Speaker Steve Harshman announced Mar. 31 that the state legislature will likely hold its first special session in 15 years. Jackson Hole News and Guide reports lawmakers would meet to allocate federal emergency funds towards the state’s coronavirus response.
Out of the 2.2 trillion dollar emergency package signed by President Donald Trump on Mar. 28, Wyoming stands to get 1.25 billion in relief.
A staff member of the Wyoming Behavioral Health Institute in Casper has tested positive for the COVID-19 illness along with three patients Apr. 1. The Casper Star-Tribune reports that the worker was sent home under strict isolation while the patients remain in the facility in isolation.
Updated 03/29/20 at 7:00 P.M.
Wyoming is reporting more than 80 known cases of the COVID-19 illness. The newest cases are from Fremont and Teton counties.
The Gillette News Record reports hundreds of Fremont County residents are in quarantine with possible COVID-19 symptoms due to lack of testing materials.
The Record reports people who do not require hospitalization for the virus are deemed “presumptive positive” and sent home to self-quarantine. Nurses will contact these patients by phone twice-a-day and record symptoms of that person and their families.
On Saturday, Jackson became the first town in Wyoming to issue a shelter-in-place order. Obtaining food and medical care is still permitted.
The Wyoming Board of Medicine warns physicians to not hoard or misuse drugs that have been seen as potential COVID-19 treatments.
The Casper Star-Tribune reports the medical board director was receiving information about Wyoming physicians prescribing themselves and their family members these drugs.
Update 3/28/20
As of Saturday, Wyoming has 82 confirmed cases of the COVID-19 illness. Over half of the counties have been infected with this virus. These new cases were confirmed in new counties.
Fremont county has 20 cases, Laramie County has 19, Teton has 13, Natrona has eight, Sheridan has six, Johnson has five, Albany, Campbell, Goshen, Park, Converse, Sweetwater, Washakie, and Sublette counties have one.
According to the Gillette News Record, health officials say 23 cases resulted from spread within the local community. 18 people have made full recoveries.
The Casper Star Tribune reports medical officials still believe the true number of COVID-19 cases is higher because of limited testing. As of Saturday there have been over 1,500 tests performed. 1,200 of these tests have been conducted in-state.
The Tribune also reports the town of Jackson became the first in Wyoming to order residents to stay at home to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. The stay-at-home order went into effect yesterday through April 17.
Governor Mark Gordon and state Health Officer Alexia Harrist have issued multiple closure orders but have not gone so far as to order residents to stay home.
Updated 3/27/20 3:40 P.M.
Governor Mark Gordon today extended closures of public places including schools, bars, restaurants and coffee shops and prohibiting gatherings of ten or more people.
Gordon says the closures through April 17 are in response to the growing case numbers of COVID-19 in Wyoming.
As of Friday, Wyoming has 70 confirmed cases of COVID-19, though health officials assume the actual number of infections is much higher.
There are cases in 13 counties. Fremont County leads the number of cases at 17.
Gordon said in a news release “It is imperative that our citizens respond to this public health crisis by staying home whenever possible and practicing proper social distancing when they must go out.”
Updated 03/26/20 at 7:30 P.M.
Some Wyoming public schools are preparing for closures longer than Governor Mark Gordon’s initial closure order. The Casper Star-Tribune reports Natrona County Health Officer Mark Dowell told the school board he doesn’t see schools opening by April 6 during a teleconference Wednesday.
The Wyoming Department of Health Thursday morning announced of the state’s 53 cases, 14 people have recovered and that there have been no deaths.
The Tribune also reports that United Way of Natrona County has opened a community relief fund for COVID-19. One hundred percent of the donations will go toward individuals in need and will provide aid for food, medical supplies, rent, mortgage and utility payments.