A recent increase in active coronavirus cases in Wyoming should not be considered a “spike” in the illness, a Wyoming Department of Health spokeswoman said Friday.
However, now that the state has more than 500 active coronavirus cases, the department is stepping up its encouragement for residents to get vaccinated against the virus.
In the past week, the number of active cases in the state has increased by 36, standing at 516 on Thursday, showing the need for people to be vaccinated, said Kim Deti, a spokeswoman for the Department of Health.
“Without vaccination, the risk of illness could remain for people and that’s what we’re focused on avoiding,” said WDH spokeswoman Kim Deti. “We want everyone who is eligible to get vaccinated.”
But she also noted that overall, the state’s number of coronavirus cases has been increasing by only about 49 cases per day over a 21-day period, compared to the state’s peak of 608 new cases per day in late November.
“It’s been relatively stable for about two months now,” she said.
As of Friday, almost 170,000 Wyoming residents had been completely vaccinated against the virus and this week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention approved the Pfizer vaccine for children between the ages of 12 and 15.
“Unfortunately, we’re not done yet with COVID-19 illnesses and that is why vaccination is so important,” Deti said. “We also continue to recommend masks in indoor public places for people who aren’t fully vaccinated when common-sense physical distancing cannot be maintained among those who don’t live in the same household.
“It’s still important for people who are ill to remain home unless they need medical attention,” she continued. “We encourage testing as well.”
The Cheyenne-Laramie County Health Department even offered a pair of free Cheyenne Frontier Days concert tickets to one lucky person who got vaccinated sometime during May or June.
