Fourth case added to count in Carbon County

Over the weekend, the number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in Wyoming continued to increase as testing continued and the virus spread. As of 4 p.m. on April 6, the total number of cases in the Cowboy State was at 210 with 52 cases recovered and no deaths. Of the 23 counties in Wyoming, 17 have at least one confirmed case. 

On Friday evening, Carbon County had one more added to its count with a fourth confirmed case from the Wyoming Department of Health. When initially contacted, Jacquelin Wells, public information officer for the Carbon County COVID-19 Incident Management Team, stated that Carbon County Public Health only had records of three cases.

“The State Epidemiologist (Dr. Alexia Harrist) is currently investigating the issue but, at this time, thinks this is a data entry error,” said Wells. “We will notify the public immediately if and when we hear of an actual fourth positive COVID-19 case.”

Less than 24 hours later, Wells confirmed that there was a fourth case assigned to Carbon County.

“After further investigation from the State of Wyoming Department of Health and Carbon County Public Health, it was discovered that there was a fourth confirmed COVID-19 case. The case is a male resident over 50 years old. He tested positive for COVID-19 out of state. He is being treated and in isolation out of state,” Wells said. “The patient has not been in Carbon County and is said to have contracted the virus also out of state.”

Wells added that all residents that test positive are recorded in their state of residence, hence why Carbon County has four confirmed cases despite two of them not being in the county.

“This case does not pose risk to any Carbon County residents at this time,” said Wells.

In an email to media outlets, Wells stated that the fourth case was diagnosed and being treated in Nebraska.

According to data available on the Wyoming Department of Health website, as of April 6 there are still two tests pending at the Wyoming Public Health Laboratory and 44 tests for Carbon County have been performed at the lab. Three of the four cases are reported to have fully recovered from COVID-19 and Carbon County Public Health is currently investigating six COVID-19 like illness cases.

Statewide, the Wyoming Public Health Laboratory has processed 2,405 tests and 1,523 have been processed by commercial laboratories as of April 6. Of those, 144 positive results have come from the state lab while 66 have come from commercial labs.

Carbon County Public Health is still advising residents who have a fever, cough or influenza-like symptoms or close contact with a person known to have COVID-19 to call 307-328-2607. Common sense steps such as washing your hands often and well, covering your coughs and sneezes and cleaning and disinfecting surfaces and objects that may be contaminated with germs are still encouraged.