Gov. Mark Gordon on Wednesday said if Wyoming counties want to opt for more strict stay-at-home directives to fight the coronavirus pandemic he would be open to it.
Gordon, who has resisted a formal statewide stay-at-home order, said if local government officials sought stronger restrictions than those already imposed by the state, they should get in touch with his office.
“We have maintained from the beginning if counties feel it is important they can come to the state and Dr. Harrist and I will work with them to craft an order just like the one that is in Teton County,” he said.
“We are happy to work with counties as they see fit to make sure that their needs are well-met,” he said.
Gordon said his three statewide public health orders — which closed all schools, some businesses, and restricted social gatherings to no more than 10 people — are working, unlike the stricter mandates in effect in Colorado.
“We are seeing a decrease in activity and we’re seeing people socially distance,” he said. “Our lockdown neighbor to the south, Colorado — the one where no one is supposed to be traveling — they seem to be traveling in droves to Wyoming and we are trying to put a stop to it.”
Gordon polnted to a Google study that said Wyoming residents have reduced their travel to recreational and retail destinations by 37 percent since his orders were put in place.
“This data shows that more people are staying home,” he said.
Teton County is the only local government in Wyoming that has adopted a stricter stay-at-home policy. But officials in both Laramie and Natrona counties have publicly raised the idea of needing a stricter mandate.
