Bars To Close Earlier as Apart of New Statewide COVID Mandates

In response to hospital visits and COVID cases continuing to rise in the state, Gov. Mark Gordon made an announcement Monday that restrictions will grow tighter in attempt to slow the spread.

The overall strategy in the new wave of regulations will be lowering the number of people in groups, closing businesses down earlier as well as more implementation of face coverings.

Gordon stated in a news release that, “our state and those surrounding us are facing a hospital 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… Too many people have died.”

The Governor’s previous steps to address the rising number of hospitalizations included reducing the size of allowed gatherings, accepting federal assistance from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and providing additional financial and staffing support to hospitals in the state. With federal CARES Act funding scheduled to expire at the end of the month, the Governor said the use of face coverings is a cost-effective tool that can help reduce hospitalizations and keep businesses and schools open until a COVID-19 vaccine is widely available. Wyoming reported 128 COVID-19 deaths in November, the highest number since the pandemic began in March.

23 deaths were confirmed just on Monday.

Some of the new requirements from Gov. Gordon are:

• Restaurants and bars will be closed from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. for onsite consumption
• Participants in organized sporting events and artistic performances shall not congregate in groups larger than 12, down from 25
• Restaurants in travel centers and truck stops will not be ordered to close
• Indoor events may allow more than 10 individuals but no more than 25% of venue capacity with a maximum of 100 people
• Outdoor events may allow more than 10 individuals but no more than 50% of venue capacity with a maximum of 250 people
• Groups together at bars, concerts and other public events will be restricted to 6 people
• Workout classes will not be allowed any more than 10 individuals