Health emergency to end

Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon will end the state’s COVID-19 public health emergency effective March 14, nearly two years since the pandemic first began.

The announcement came from the Office of Governor Mark Gordon on February 28.

“As we see our numbers and hospitalizations receding, it is time to begin the shift to a new phase. This virus will be with us for the foreseeable future and we should manage it appropriately,” said Gordon in a press release. “That means being personally responsible for one’s own health and respectful of your family and neighbors. Use the tools we now have available and stay home when you’re sick.”

As of February 28, Wyoming had 476 active cases of COVID-19 with 158 new cases confirmed since February 25. There have been 122,241 confirmed cases of the coronavirus since the pandemic began with 1,718 deaths in that same time. Meanwhile, as of February 22, Wyoming was still under 50 percent vaccination rate with only 45.11 percent of Wyoming residents fully vaccinated.

According to the press release from the governor’s office, Gordon has been working with impacted Executive Branch agencies and licensing boards “to ensure they are prepared to make adjustments, where necessary.” The press release went on to state the Wyoming Department of Health would continue to serve as a resource for COVID-19 information and support. Impacts which will occur related to the end of the public health emergency include; the expiration of federal funded SNAP emergency allotment effective May 1, 2022 and the elimination of emergency rule changes to licensure requirements for the Board of Medicine and the Board of Nursing.

“I extend my appreciation to our medical community, first responders, public health officials and National Guard volunteers statewide who have shown their commitment to the people of Wyoming through this pandemic,” Gordon said in the press release. “As we wind down from the emergency, the public can expect to see some changes in how information is relayed.”