Fully vaccinated people no longer need to wear masks

People who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 have been given the go-ahead to return to the everyday life they enjoyed before the pandemic began. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has updated its public health guidance to remove the recommendation for everyone, even when fully vaccinated, to wear face coverings and follow physical distancing guidelines.

Vaccination Program

The CDC defines “fully vaccinated” as being two weeks after your second dose of a two-dose vaccine or two weeks after your single dose of a one-dose vaccine. At this time, 1270 people in Crook County have completed their course of the vaccine, according to Public Health, while 1100 people in this county have now received their first dose.

Public Health would like to make the community aware that it is in possession of 30 doses of the Johnson & Johnson single-dose vaccine that need to be used before May 25. If you would like to receive this vaccine, please contact the office at 283-1142 to schedule an appointment.

New Guidelines

The CDC notes that fully vaccinated people will still need to follow social distancing guidelines where required by federal, state, local, tribal or territorial rules, including local business and workplace guidance. However, if you have been around someone who has COVID-19, you do not need to get tested or self-isolate unless you have symptoms.

In Wyoming, the remaining statewide COVID-19 public health orders will remain in place until the end of May, according to an announcement from the Wyoming Department of Health. These orders specify that mask use and physical distancing requirements are still in place for educational institutions, while indoor events of more than 500 people may be held at 50% of venue capacity with specific mask protocols.

Travel also remains subject to pandemic-related guidance. According to the CDC, you will still be required to wear a mask on planes, trains, buses and other public transport traveling into, within or out of the U.S., and in transportation hubs such as airports.

International travelers will still need to get tested three days before travel by air into the U.S. or show documentation of recovery from COVID-19 within the past three months, and should still get tested 3-5 days after their trip.

Rules at your international destination may, of course, be different. You don’t need to get tested before leaving the U.S. unless your destination requires it, and you don’t need to self-quarantine after arriving in the U.S.

Local Stats

The number of recorded COVID-19 cases reached a new landmark this week as two new confirmed and one new probable case were added to the tally, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 400. Probable cases throughout the pandemic now sit at 34.

After an extended period in which no new COVID-19 cases were admitted to the Crook County Memorial Hospital, two patients were admitted on May 10. This dropped to one patient on May 14.

Across Wyoming, 360 new lab confirmed cases and 98 probable cases have been reported over the last week. The state now has 451 active cases, which is a decline of 24 since last week and the lowest number of active cases since May 3.

Federal Funding

Wyoming has now received the first half of its allocation through the American Rescue Plan Act, which provides additional funding support during the pandemic crisis. On Monday, Governor Mark Gordon outlined the areas of focus for this funding.

The $1 billion will be used primarily to address the immediate and long-term effects of the pandemic in the areas of health and social services; education and workforce; and economic diversity and development. Along with his Cabinet, Gordon is working to identify priorities within each focus area by identifying the most significant problems the state is facing and the best opportunities for investment of the funds.

According to the governor, a preliminary planning framework will be released in June. The process is expected to include development of proposals for initiatives or new programs for the Legislature to consider. Wyoming has three years to spend the funds.

“We are going to be laser-focused on addressing Wyoming’s short and long-term recovery, and on getting people back to work,” Governor Gordon said. “I want to ensure we use these dollars to thrive in the long-term, because this federal spending is increasing debt on our children and the generations to come. We must not squander this opportunity to invest wisely in our state’s future.”

Counties and municipalities will also received direct funding, as will schools and higher education, child care stabilization and assistance, behavioral clinics, community health centers and other entities.

Funeral Assistance

FEMA is offering assistance to those who lost loved ones during the pandemic in the form of financial assistance for funeral expenses. Reimbursement is available for expenses ranging from transfer of remains, burial plots and headstones to interment costs, services and officiant services.

To qualify, the death must have occurred in the United States since January 20, 2020 and be attributed to COVID-19. Visit disasterassistance.gov for more information and to submit an application.