37 Positive as of 3-24-2020
Wyoming has 37 reported positive COVID-19 cases as of Tuesday, March 24, 2020. There have been no deaths in Wyoming to date due to the virus.
|
|
Wyoming closes Beauty-Nail Salons, Tattoo-Massage Parlors
March 24, 2020
Pose a risk to spread COVID-19 virus
Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon and State Health Officer Dr. Alexia Harrist have issued a third statewide order, closing non-essential personal services.
The order goes into effect tomorrow, March 25, and extends through April 3. The order is focused on businesses where appropriate social distancing measures are not practical. The closure applies to nail salons, hair salons and barber shops; cosmetology, electrology and aesthetic services; massage parlors; and tattoo, body art and piercing shops. Medically necessary services such as physical therapy providers may remain open.
"While I understand the impact and sympathize with those most affected by these measures, especially small business owners, I support Dr. Harrist’s recommendation because this is about saving lives," Governor Gordon said. "We have tried to navigate a thoughtful course, but as COVID-19 spreads through our communities, we must take this action now."
Harrist said, "People who are ill with COVID-19 can easily spread this disease to others to anyone nearby if they cough or sneeze. Staying away from others as much as possible helps protect all of us, including those who are most vulnerable to illness complications."
This order supplements previous statewide orders issued March 19 and 20 closing certain public spaces and prohibiting gatherings of 10 people or more in a single room or confined space.
Residents with additional questions about any of the statewide public health orders should inquire with their county health officer.
See below for the entire Order:
___________________________
STATEWIDE PUBLIC HEALTH ORDER #3:
TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF NAIL SALONS, HAIR SALONS, BARBER SHOPS, MASSAGE PARLORS, TATTOO, BODY ART AND PIERCING SHOPS, AND COSMETOLOGY, ELECTROLOGY, AND ESTHETIC SERVICES
In an effort to stop the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), the Wyoming Department of Health finds it necessary to protect the health of the public by implementing emergency measures to impose temporary closures as described below because the nature or these services poses an increased risk to the spread of COVID-19. This Order is effective on March 25, 2020 and shall remain in effect until April 3, 2020, unless the Wyoming Department of Health revokes or extends this Order before April 3, 2020.
FINDINGS
I. COVID-19 was first detected in Wuhan, China in 2019, and since then has spread to over 60 countries including the United States. There are 29 confirmed cases of COVIIJ-19 in Wyoming as of March 23, 2020, us well as the presence of community spread. It is expected that more cases will be diagnosed.
2. COVID-19 is a respiratory illness, transmitted through person-to-person contact or by contact with surfaces contaminated with the virus. Persons infected with COY10-19 may become symptomatic two to fourteen days after exposure. The symptoms or COVJD-19 include fever, cough, and shortness of breath. In some cases, COVTD-19 can result in severe disease, including hospitalization, admission to an intensive care unit, and death, especially among older adults and persons with serious underlying health conditions.
3. The World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a worldwide pandemic as of March 11, 2020.
4. On March 13, 2020, the President or the United States declared a national emergency concerning the coronavirus, specifically stating that, in ''December 2019 a novel (new) coronavirus known as SARS-CoV-2 (''the virus') was first detected in Wuhan, Hubei Province, People's Republic of China, causing outbreaks of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) that has now spread globally[...) The spread of COVlD-19 within our Nation's communities threatens to strain our Nation's healthcare systems. r...1 Additional measures [...]are needed to successfully contain and combat the virus in the United States."'
5. On March 13, 2020, Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon declared a State or Emergency and Public Health Emergency in the State of Wyoming, stating that on March 11, 2020, an individual within the State of Wyoming tested presumptive positive for COVfD-19 and the State of Wyoming is experiencing a public health emergency in response to the evolving COVlD·I9 outbreak.
6. Governor Gordon's Declaration of a State of Emergency and Public Health Emergency directs the Wyoming Department of Health to take all appropriate and necessary actions, and that in the judgment of the Director of the Wyoming Department of Health, any actions necessary should be taken to provide aid to those locations where there is a threat or danger to public health, safety, and welfare.
7. A significant number of Wyoming citizens are at risk of serious health complications, including death, from COVID-19. Although most individuals who contract COVID-19 do not become seriously ill, people with mild symptoms place other vulnerable members of the public at significant risk.
8. A large number of persons with serious infections may compromise the ability of healthcare systems in Wyoming to deliver t he necessary healthcare to the public.
9. Wyoming Statute§§ 35-1-240(a)(i), (ii), and (iv) provides all the rights and powers for the Wyoming Department of' Health, through the State Health Officer, Dr. Alexia Harrist, M.D., PhD, or under her directive through other employees of the Wyoming Department of Health, to close certain public places when necessary to protect public health.
10. ln addition to the above findings, stopping the spread of COVID-1 9 includes washing your hands often, practicing social distancing by avoiding close contact with others, staying at least six feet away from someone who is ill or showing signs or illness, avoiding touching your face, eyes, nose and mouth , and covering your cough or sneeze into your elbow or by using a tissue.
ORDER
I. Pursuant to Wyoming Statute §§ 35-1-240(a)(i), (ii), and (iv), effective on March 25, 2020, and continuing until April 3, 2020, unless revoked or ex tended by the Wyoming Department or Health before April 3, 2020, the following are ordered closed to members of the public in order to help stop the spread of COVID-19:
a. Nail salons, hair salons, and barber shops;
b. Cosmetology, electrology and esthetic services;
c. Massage parlors (excluding massage perfom1ed for medical purposes);
d. Tattoo, body art, and piercing shops.
2. The restrictions imposed by this Order do not prohibit owners, employees, contractors, vendors, or suppliers of the services listed above from entering, exiting, or occupying that place of business in their professional capacity, so long as the business or service is not offered to the public and so long as occupants abide by recommendations from the Wyoming Department of Health and the CDC to further mitigate the spread of COY ID-19.
3. Additional exceptions to the closures within this Order may be granted, at the discretion of the County Health Officer, under the direction and supervision of the State Health Officer, if demonstrated, in writing, to the County Health Officer that effective cleaning a nd safety measures arc implemented by the service provider.
4. This Order supplements previous statewide public health orders. (Sec Statewide Public Health Order Closing Bars, Restaurants, Theaters, Gymnasiums Chi ld Care Facilities, K-12 Schools, Colleges, Universities, and Trade Schools Statewide, entered March 1 9, 2020; and Statewide Public Health Order #2: Forbidding Gatherings of ten (I0) People or More, dated March 20, 2020).
5. This Order supersedes all previous individual county orders authorized by the Wyoming State Health Officer under Wyo. Stat. Ann.§ 35-l -240(a)(iv). To the extent any county order is more restrictive, the more restrictive provisions of the county order shall continue to apply.
As the State Health Officer, I deem this Order necessary to protect the public health. See Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 35- l -240(a)(iv). 1 will reassess the necessity of this Order as appropriate to do so and according to accepted epidemiological and medical standards. Any person or legal entity that violates this Order shall be subject to criminal prosecution under Wyo. Stat. Ann. §§ 35-1 -105 and -106.
DATED THIS
24th DAY OF March 2020.
Wyoming State Health Officer
|
