Jackson Town Council member Jonathan Schechter has been conducting surveys to gauge how his community views the economic effects of the pandemic. The results charted here show the majority of respondents are pessimistic about its effects on them personally. (Jonathan Schechter)

by WyoFile staff

As of 11:30 a.m., May 20, 2020 

  1. Wyoming: Confirmed cases of COVID-19: 583. Deaths: 10. Recovered: 528. Probable, untested cases: 193. 
  2. By county: Fremont County leads the state with 204 confirmed cases, followed by Laramie with 121, Teton with 69, Natrona with 51 and Campbell and Sweetwater with 16. Two counties, Platte and Weston, have reported no cases. 
  3. Testing: 18,049 tests have been administered and processed, according to the Wyoming Department of Health. 
  4. United States: 1,531,485 confirmed cases, according to the Johns Hopkins Institute. Total deaths: 92,066 — Total recoveries: 289,392.
  5. The latest: The Wyoming Department of Workforce Services on Wednesday released updated interim guidance for employers regarding record keeping of COVID-19 cases. According to the memo, employers are responsible for recording cases if the case is confirmed positive, if the case is work-related or if the case involves certain other criteria. Due to the widespread transmission and prevention steps, the memo reads, the government and private sector have taken rapid and evolving actions to deal with the spread as some business sectors reopen. “All these facts — incidence, adaptation, and the return of the workforce — indicate that employers should be taking action to determine whether employee COVID-19 illnesses are work-related and thus recordable,” the memo states. Given the nature of the disease and ubiquity of community spread, however, in many instances it remains difficult to determine whether a COVID-19 illness is work-related, the memo continues. “In light of these considerations, OSHA is exercising its enforcement discretion in order to provide certainty to employers and workers … Recording a COVID-19 illness does not, of itself, mean that the employer has violated any OSHA standard.” The new guidelines will remain in effect until further notice. 
  6. More news: Natrona County Health Officer Dr. Mark Dowell said a recent jump in confirmed cases there “correlates” with people not strictly adhering to recommendations put in place to stem the virus’s spread, the Casper Star-Tribune reports. Thirteen new cases were confirmed there in the last week. Before that, three weeks had passed without a new case. Officials with Campbell County’s Cam-plex events center estimate the center has lost about $175,000 due to cancellations and postponements, the Wyoming News Exchange reports. Devils Tower National Monument will reopen park roads, trails, rock climbing and the picnic area Friday, according to its website. The visitor center and campground will remain closed for now.

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