Hospital still overwhelmed

Crook County Memorial Hospital is still dealing with high numbers of serious COVID-19 cases. Little has changed since a sudden influx of patients began arriving just over a week ago, according to CEO Micki Lyons of Crook County Medical Services District.

“Things have not changed significantly since last week. We continue to have numerous ER visits that are COVID-19 related, as well as admissions,” she says.

Hospitalizations across Wyoming have risen fast over the last couple of weeks. From around 40 per day in June, the total number of people in hospital due to COVID-19 reached a recent high of 230 on Tuesday.

While the hospital hosts both in-patients and visitors who are positive for the virus, Lyons says the doors will stay locked.

“Visitation is still shut down until things ease up a bit,” she said.

Perhaps the section of the facility most vulnerable to the virus, Lyons reports the positive news that the long-term care unit is doing well at this time.

“We continue to monitor staff and residents closely for symptoms and are following the CDC guidelines for any symptomatic staff or residents,” she says.

Lyons reminds the community that medical services remain available to anyone and everyone who needs them and the district is doing its utmost to continue to protect the community.

“CCMSD is offering drive-through COVID-19 testing for those that just want a test. Please contact the hospital lab to schedule,” Lyons says.

The district’s clinics remain open for appointments, both COVID-related and general.

“Please contact the clinics if you have questions about COVID-19 exposure or concerns about COVID-19 symptoms and our staff can direct you,” Lyons says.

“For information on the COVID-19 vaccine, please contact Crook County Public Health.”

Current Stats

As it has done for the last month, COVID-19 continues to spread quickly across Wyoming.

On Tuesday, the Wyoming Department of Health reported an additional 23 deaths attributed to COVID-19, bringing the total to 858. This included five losses each in Laramie and Fremont counties, two each in Converse and Albany counties and one each in Big Horn, Campbell, Natrona, Park, Platte, Sheridan, Sublette, Uinta and Washakie counties.

Of those who died, 16 were described as older. Six of the 23 were not known to have any prior health conditions that put them at higher risk of serious illness from the coronavirus.

Active cases have dropped slightly on some days over the last week, but saw an alarming jump on Wednesday when an increase of 714 new active cases brought the total to 4153, a number that has not been seen since December 9, 2020.

Over the past week, Crook County has seen 42 new lab-confirmed cases added to the tally and nine new probable cases.