A steep decline in the number of coronavirus patients being treated at the Wyoming Medical Center is the result of people following face mask mandates, Natrona County’s health officer said Thursday.
Dr. Mark Dowell, in a posting on his business Facebook page, said the number of coronavirus patients at the center has dropped by 50% in recent weeks.
“It just shows that [masking] works,” he said. “And it shows that it can save lives and needs to continue until we get a lot of the population vaccinated. incredibly exciting.”
He encouraged Natrona County residents and Wyomingites to continue wearing masks, socially distancing and limiting holiday gatherings.
He also thanked those who have followed the mask mandates put in place both statewide and in Natrona County.
Dowell also said he received the coronavirus vaccine on Wednesday and noted that no one will have to pay out-of-pocket to receive it.
He said his only side effect was a sore arm from the injection and he encouraged people to get the vaccine when it becomes available.
“Bottom line, get the shot,” he said. “It will protect your family. It will protect you and it will protect other people. We need to get the vast majority of us population immunized that will help a ton. Then we can flatten this curve, start to bend it down and have a good 2021 especially as we approach late spring and summer.”
