Cody Regional Health Flooded With Surge of COVID-19 Cases

It’s not good – a newly designated “COVID unit” is already full, with Cody Regional Health changing protocols with a growing number of COVID-19 cases.

Like Wyoming and the rest of the nation, Park County is currently dealing with a second surge of COVID-19 cases. Now, the full brunt of the virus is being felt at Cody Regional Health.

Cody Regional Health has recently seen “a significant increase in COVID patients” at their walk-in clinic, emergency department, and acute care critical care (ACU/CCU) units. Due to this significant increase, the hospital has converted an entire wing into a COVID treatment ward with eight single occupancy beds. In addition, the “COVID wing” also has the capability to convert rooms into double occupancy for a total of 16 beds with an additional three I.C.U. beds.

As of Tuesday, August 10, the COVID wing at Cody Regional Health is currently at full capacity, with all eight single beds in use.

Due to these factors, C.R.H.’s administration is limiting visitors to one per patient between 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM at this time. Patient visitation in a limited format will return for non-COVID ACU patients and OB patients after COVID numbers decline.

To preserve Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), Cody Regional Health’s (CRH) Walk-in Clinic team asks patients with respiratory-related issues to use their walk-in clinic during the first two hours of opening.

• Monday through Friday: 8:00 to 10:00 AM
• Saturday through Sunday: | 9:00 to 11:30 AM

The walk-in clinic is located within Cathcart Health Center at 424 Yellowstone Avenue. No appointment is needed to come to the walk-in clinic, and patients will not be turned away,

Respiratory Clinic Symptoms include:

• Fever
• Cough
• Shortness of breath
• Diarrhea
• Loss of taste/sense of smell
• Nausea-vomiting
• Sore throat

At this time, the Respiratory Clinic will not be offering testing for those without COVID-19  symptoms.

Patients experiencing severe COVID-19 symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest pain, palpitations, or other more serious symptoms should go to the closest ER or call 9-1-1.

For further questions about COVID-19 testing, please visit codyregionalhealth.org or visit www.CDC.gov.

If there is a suspected case of COVID-19 and the person is not sick enough to be hospitalized, people will be sent home to self-isolate. If they have family living with them, they will also be asked to self-isolate. Cody Regional Health and Park County Public Health will be working together to monitor each case.

CRH is working closely with the county and state health officials to follow hospital policies and guidelines from The Wyoming Department of Health (WDH) and Center for Disease Control and Prevention. In addition, treating providers use the most up-to-date recommendations from the National Institutes of Health and the Infectious Disease Society of America to provide the best care to our community members who fall ill.

“Cody Regional Health has the best protocols in place to prevent and protect our patients from COVID-19. We have a tested plan in place and will continue to monitor this situation closely,” states Keith Ungrund, Chief Clinical Officer at Cody Regional Health.

So far, August has seen the highest number of COVID-19 cases in Park County since January 2021 – near the end of 2020’s surge.

The latest numbers released by Park County Public Health Officer Dr. Aaron Billin show a steady uptick in cases. He advises personal safety and vaccination as the best ways to bring down the surge.

According to Politico, Wyoming’s case positivity has increased by 80% over the past two weeks. As a result, the entire state is currently classified as a “high transmission zone.”