Northern Wyoming News - Serving the Big Horn Basin for over 100 years

WORLAND — One more death and four more cases were reported in Washakie County over the past week, mostly due to the outbreak at Worland Healthcare and Rehabilitation (WHR).

Washakie County had remained at five cases for several weeks before an outbreak at the center was reported on May 9.

There have been 32 lab-confirmed COVID-19 cases in Washakie County as of Tuesday, June 2. The Wyoming Department of Health is also listing five probable cases. Of the total 37 cases, there are only 16 active cases with 18 reported recoveries, 14 lab-confirmed cases and four probable cases.

There have been 14 residents and 12 staff members test positive for COVID-19 with an additional resident in Montana testing positive after moving from the center. Three of the staff members are counted in Big Horn County COVID stats and one member is counted in Hot Springs County statistics.

There have been five Washakie County residents not connected to WHR who have tested positive in the past 10 days, the most recent was a female resident in her 60s.

Investigation into the new case is currently underway. Anyone identified as a close contact of a confirmed or probable case will be notified.

People who are confirmed or probable cases are given isolation orders; close contacts receive quarantine orders. Isolation is staying away from other people, staying in a separate room, including while eating, using a separate restroom. Quarantine is separating yourself from the community.

If a person who is on quarantine or isolation does not comply with the order, they may be subject to criminal prosecution under Wyoming Statutes 35-1-105 and 106.

There are two COVID-19 patients hospitalized at Washakie Medical Center, according to the Wyoming Department of Health. In the Big Horn Basin, South Big Horn Hospital outside of Basin is also showing one COVID-19 patient hospitalized.

The deaths in Washakie County have been two male residents and one female resident at WHR.

The female resident was an older woman who had been a previously identified as a laboratory-confirmed case. Her death was reported on Wednesday, May 27.

One of the male residents was an older man who had been hospitalized. His death was reported on May 26.

The first death was an older gentleman, and it was reported on May 21.

Testing of any resident or staff member who has previously tested negative will continue weekly until the Wyoming Department of Health is sure there is no longer transmission within the facility.