Bighorn Basin “High Transmission Zone” for COVID-19
Written by Andrew-Rossi on September 21, 2021
The Bighorn Basin remains a High Transmission Zone for COVID-19, as the Delta variant runs rampant in northwest Wyoming.
The Wyoming Department of Health continues to track the ongoing surge of COVID-19 throughout the state. Unfortunately, things in the Bighorn Basin haven’t been improving over the last few weeks.
Color-coded indicators measure statewide and countywide levels of COVID-19 transmission, based on indicators developed by the White House COVID-19 Task Force. Indicators are calculated based on the previous 14 days except for active cases, which indicates the number of active topics in the county on the day metrics are calculated.
Courtesy Wyoming Department of Health
As of the last ranking, every county in the Bighorn Basin is ranked as a High Transmission Zone, except Hot Springs County, a Very High Transmission Zone.
Park, Big Horn, and Washakie Counties are all ranks as High Transmission Zones. This means there are anywhere from 202 to 999 cases per 100,000 population and 10.1% to 19.9% test positivity over the previous 14 days.
As of Monday, Sept. 20, there were 172 active cases of COVID-19 in Park County, 69 active cases in Big Horn County, and 30 active cases in Washakie County. Thankfully, the test positivity rate in Washakie County is dropping – 2.7, which is one of the lowest in the state at this point.
Meanwhile, things are not good in Hot Springs County. It’s one of only two counties in the state with Very High Transmission Levels – the highest category on the color-coded ranking. The other county with Very High Transmission is Campbell County.
“Dark Red Zones” means there are over 1,000 cases per 100,000 population and more than 20% test positivity over the previous 14 days.
Based on recent developments, this designation isn’t very surprising. Hot Springs County schools spent the first two weeks of September in entirely digital classes, as over 30% of students and staff were out of school, either with COVID or in quarantine due to COVID exposure.
The Wyoming Department of Health’s solutions to curb the spread are simple: masks, isolation, and vaccination.
Park County Public Health Officer Dr. Aaron Billin reminded county residents of the primary recommendations from the Wyoming Department of Health to prevent COVID-19. Those primary steps remain unchanged but more relevant than ever:
- Get a COVID-19 vaccine.
- Stay home when sick unless you need medical attention.
- Wear face masks in indoor public settings.
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