News Flash

Teton County Health Department informs community that the COVID-19 Investigation and Contact Tracing Team is experiencing significant delays due to a significant increase in recent COVID-19 cases.  (See below for more information)  

Teton County Health Officer re-issues Recommendation #11 "Gather in Household Groups Only."   (See below for more information) 

DELAYS IN CASE INVESTIGATION AND CONTACT TRACING DUE TO INCREASE IN COVID-19 CASES 
Teton County Health Department wants to inform the community that the COVID-19 Case Investigation and Contact Tracing Team is experiencing delays due to a significant increase in recent COVID-19 cases.   

In the last week Teton County was notified of over 270 new COVID-19 cases, averaging 39 cases per day. On January 11, 2021, more than 60 new cases were reported.   Teton County Health Department is still attempting to contact all positive cases, but it may take multiple days to reach any one individual due to the current case load. 

Teton County Health Director, Jodie Pond, MPH stated, “When the number of COVID-19 cases is this high, it overwhelms our staff.  Unless case numbers decrease, our team will not be able to contact all new positive cases each day.  This is significant because it also delays other important steps, such as notifying the close contacts of positive cases.”  Pond went on to say, “Based on past surges, we expect to see more hospitalizations in the coming weeks.  Hospitalizations tend to lag a couple weeks behind spikes in COVID-19 cases.” 

If you have tested positive for COVID-19, we ask that you isolate yourself from everyone possible, including members of your household, right away.   This includes using your own bedroom and bathroom when possible.   If you must share a common space, wear a mask and always keep a distance of at least 6 feet from others.   Ensure surfaces are frequently disinfected and all household members should not only wash their hands regularly but also wear masks inside.  

These steps are vital for preventing further transmission of the virus. For more information on what to do if you tested positive for COVID-19 or were exposed to someone who tested positive, please visit https://www.tetoncountywy.gov/2061/COVID-19. With Teton County’s contact tracing capacity currently overwhelmed, we are asking all community members to please continue to follow preventative measures to stop the spread of COVID-19.   

These include wearing a mask, maintaining a distance of at least 6 feet from others, staying home when sick, and regularly washing your hands.   During this time, we also ask community members to reconsider gathering with others not in your household and to avoid poorly ventilated or crowded spaces. 

RE-ISSUANCE OF RECOMMENDATION #11 RECOMMENDATION FROM THE TETON COUNTY HEALTH OFFICER GATHER IN HOUSEHOLD GROUPS ONLY 

The State Health Officer has issued Statewide Order #2 that limits gatherings to no more than 10 persons and based on recent events in Teton County Teton District Health Officer is recommending that persons in Teton County should limit their gatherings to only household members. As of January 12, 2021 the number of active cases of COVID in Teton County is 218.    

As of January 12, 2021 as of January 12, 2021 there are 14 COVlD related hospitalizations at St. John's Health in Jackson, Wyoming. St. John's Health has only 6 Intensive Care Unit beds. St. John's Health is also presently experiencing 22 staff members being quarantined due to possible contacts with COVID positive persons and specifically 5 staff members being COVID positive. As of January 12, 2021 the previous seven-day average of new cases in Teton County is 32. As of January 11, 2021 the two-week rolling average of test positivity rate for Teton County is 8.88%. The CEO of St. John's Health in Jackson, Wyoming has expressed concern for the ability of the hospital to handle any increased number of hospitalizations.  

It is recommended, that Gatherings should be limited to household groups in order to help stop the spread of COVID.  A "household group" is defined as a group of individuals who reside in the same residence. A "gathering" is any planned or spontaneous event, public or private, bringing together, or likely bringing together, people from outside a person's household group in a single room or a single confined space (whether indoor or outdoor) at the same time.  For clarification, persons should continue to go to work and to school, but should not gather outside of a household groups that occur outside of work or school.