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8 — December 10, 2020
being No. 1 in cases per capita
a month ago to being 20th
out of the state’s 23 coun-
ties, ahead of only Niobrara,
Albany and Lincoln counties.
To date, Weston County has
reported 348 total confirmed
cases, 74 probable cases and
two deaths. A total of 92 cases
have been credited to com-
munity spread of the disease
and 5.8% of the total tests
performed in the county have
returned positive results.
According to the Wyoming
Department of Health, Weston
County has recorded 38 newly
c f ed cases in the past 14
' . I " with only
s<')‘1"1e"'p‘osi'tive
test result on Dec. 7.
3 On that same day, the state
recorded 668 confirmed cases,
down 41% from 14 days ago,
but the state also reported the
highest number of hospital-
ized COVID-l9 patients since
the pandemic began with 206
patients hospitalized, up 3% in
the last 14 days.
i To date, Wyoming has had
32,196 total confirmed cases,
with 27,060 of those recov—
ered; 4,789 probable cases,
with 3,928 of those recov-
ered; and 280 deaths linked
to the illness, according to the
GET srnarsn n'r EN
1
As Christmas approaches, members of the
Newcastle Assembly of God prepared by
decorating the sanctuary wlth a Christmas
tree, garlands, wreaths and polnsettlas on
Dec. 1. Above, Bert Sutherland attaches a
garland in place. At right, Ted Murray and
Pastor Norm Brotzman prepare a wreath to
decorate the altar. Far right, Betty Brotzman
shapes a wreath for the altar.
department of health.
Over the past two weeks,
Wyoming has recorded 6,547
positive test results for COVID-
19. On Dec. 6, the department
reported that 50% of the total
tests taken have returned posi-
tive results. Overall, the state
has a positivity rate of 7.8%
Because of the increases in
hospitalization rates and deaths
across the state, Gov. Mark
Gordon announced on Dec.
7 that a statewide face mask
mandate would go into effect
on Dec. 9 and continue through
,jthebeginning of the year. Also’ i
included in the announcement
were updates to other"‘guide¥
lines, including operating hours
for restaurants and bars and
occupancy allowances. This
approach, the press release said,
is to protect the public and keep
schools and business open.
“This involves requiring
face coverings in certain indoor
public settings in all coun-
ties, reducing group sizes and
reducing hours of businesses
where COVID— 1 9 transmission
is more likely to occur,” the
release states. “However, coun-
ties can opt out of the require-
ments if local conditions move
to safer levels in‘ accordance
T0 SPEQK
‘Tis the, season
OR ESQ”... 2—14
its era
news letter journal is
By the
numbers
Weston County
- Number of lab-confirmed
cases in the past 24 hours: 1
- Number of active lab-con-
firmed cases: 39
- Rate of lab-confirmed cases:
5,024 per 100,000 residents
Number of probable cases:
74
- Total number of cases recov-
ered: 376
Lab-confirmed cases recov-
ered: 309; - (Probable cases
recovered: ‘67,,
‘ '4 “Number Of'COVID-19 related
deaths: 2
Source: Wyoming Department
of Health
with White House metrics.”
“Our state and those sur-
rounding us are facing a hos-
pital capacity crisis that now
compels us to take additional
action. All through the fall,
Wyoming has seen a rise in
serious cases of COVID to a
point where every county is
facing critical and dangerous
levels of spread of the virus.
OLLWY0.0RG
’63:}
WYHMME semesters.
V health orders,
Too many people have died,”
Gov. Gordon said in the
release. “Science tells us lim-
iting gatherings of groups and
using face coverings are effec—
tive in slowing transmission of
the virus. With these actions
we can avoid taking the more
drastic step of closing schools
and businesses.”
Weston County was one
of seven counties that had
not yet issued a county wide
mask mandate before the
governor’s updated public
health orders. The Weston
County's commissioners have
opposed a mask mandate and
haw: requested county wide
variances to the public health
orders on several occasions.
In response to the updated
the commis-
sioners stated that it is their
duty to govern, not to mandate.
“The board feels that it is
someone’s personal choice to
wear a mask or not; however,
we ask the citizens of Weston
County to respect each other’s
choices,” a statement from
the board says. “Be respectful
of both sides, do not bully or
disrespect them because their
choice differs from yours.”
The board also asked that
Weston County residents not
overwhelm local dispatch and
law enforcement by reporting
individuals not wearing masks
or violating other aspects of
the health orders. The state-
ment encouraged people to
remain patient and respectful
of everyone during this
difficult time.
“Also, if a business wants
to establish a mask mandate, it
is their choice and their patrons
should comply and respect this
choice,” the statement says.
editor@newslj.com
Photos by Walter Sprague/NLJ
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..
Weston County Sheriff
Bryan Colvard also released a
statement stating that the sher—
iff’s office has no intentions
of enforcing the update health
orders criminally, meaning by
citation or arresting violators.
“My foremost responsibility
to you is the protection of your
freedom and Constitutional
Rights. However, I do ask that
you respect and work with each
other during these times using
common sense,” Colvard said.
“If a business requires face
coverings please respect that
business owner’sdecision to do‘
so. I want our businesses to stay
open and prosper.”
Before the updated health
orders, several local busi-
nesses and offices, including
but not limited to the US.
Forest Service, Taco Loco,
the University of Wyoming
Extension Office and the city
of Newcastle office had either
closed their doors or requested
that masks be worn on-site due
to the increase of COVID-19
cases in the area.
Johnson also acknowledged
the new guidelines, stating that
she knows not everyone will
agree with them or want to
follow them. She asked that
people still remain cautious if
gathering in large groups.
“I won’t push the mask
thing, and I ask that others
don’t either. There is no pro-
ductive conversation at this
point on either side, just the
same arguments both 'for and
against,” Johnson said. “Most
of the previous high numbers
(in the county) were related to
work clusters, so it is important
to not let your guard down too
much in those close situations.
Whether it is masking, main-
Everyone is invited!
taining distance, improving
ventilation or another method
to reduce transmission, just try
do to something.”
Weston County School
District No. 1 has begun prepa—
rations to begin following the
mandates as closely as possible,
according to a release from
Superintendent Brad LaCroix.
“Although the latest news
from the governor is not what
we had hoped for, we are
encouraged by how‘ well we
have all been able to adjust
to quarantines, changes in
guidelines and spikes in case
’numbérs through the first half
of the year,” the statement said.
“Because of that, we believe
our staff and students will
handle the newest direction
from the State of Wyoming
with the same level of respect
and cooperation they’ve shown
throughout this experience, and
we will continue to succeed in
our fight to keep the virus from
negatively impacting the things
most important to students and
their education.”
The district plans to continue
to seek guidance and necessary
clarification from the gover-
nor’s office and the Wyoming
Department of Education as the
community navigates through
the coming months.
“At this time of year, it
shouldn’t be difficult to focus
on taking care of each other, and
we can best serve our children
right now by demonstrating
patience, understanding and
respect towards one another
as we finish our final days of
school for 2020, and get ready
to take a well-deserved break
for the holidays and spend time
with those we love most,” the
statement concludes.
Tuesday, December 24
from 15-6 p.m.
' ' i: vi forICdndlaLight ng and Christmas Carols
' scrawny
Chu' h “at
Refreshments will follow