COVID-19 daily briefing: April 7, 2020

Beginning April 8, WyoFile will publish its COVID-19 daily briefing at 3:30 p.m. to align with a new Wyoming Department of Health updating schedule. 

As of 10 a.m., April 7, 2020 

1. Wyoming: Confirmed cases of COVID-19: 216. Recovered: 52
2. By county: Laramie County leads the state with 47 confirmed cases, followed by Teton with 41, Fremont with 38, Natrona with 26 and Sheridan with 12. Five counties have reported no cases. 
3. Testing: 4,005 tests had been administered and processed, according to the Wyoming Department of Health. Experts and officials agree testing numbers fall short of the reality of the disease’s spread.
4. United States: 368,533 confirmed cases, according to the Johns Hopkins Institute. Total deaths: 11,008  — Total recoveries: 19,972.
5. The latest: The Wyoming Department of Health recommended Monday that residents wear cloth face coverings in public settings such as grocery stores or pharmacies — aligning with new CDC recommendations. As experts continue to learn more about the novel coronavirus, it’s becoming apparent that people can transmit it to others before showing symptoms, State Health Officer Dr. Alexia Harrist said in a release. “This means the virus can spread between people who are close to each other without them realizing it is happening,” Harrist said. “That is the reason for this change and the new recommendation.” In Fremont County, where healthcare providers have directed 750 people with COVID-19-like symptoms to self-isolate over the last two weeks, officials also encouraged everyone to wear masks.
6. More news: More Wyoming newspapers make cuts amid falling ad revenues. Requests pour in from workers who want to be designated “essential” in Wyoming, and Gov. Mark Gordon is one of the last remaining governors not to issue a statewide stay-at-home order. The University of Wyoming has canceled its traditional spring commencement ceremonies, opting instead to hold a virtual graduation that will be broadcast on May 16. With the end of spring break, students across the state resume school this week, but from home with distance learning techniques.

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