Is Wyoming prepared for an outbreak of COV-19? Who knows? State officials need to break their silence

BY STEVE MYRUM

As the novel coronavirus COVID-19 takes hold in Washington State and along the West Coast, one can only measure in days or weeks the time it will take for the virus to reach Wyoming.

With two major west to east interstate highways traversing our state, it’s a safe bet we will see the first cases infecting our cities along these routes as sick travelers traverse Wyoming.

The question is: How prepared is Wyoming for an epidemic? 

Very little information, if any, has been communicated to the people of Wyoming. Have we heard from the Wyoming Department of Health or the Wyoming Office of Homeland Security? No, nothing in regards to our preparedness for the arrival of this virus.

The health department has a Coronavirus disease notice posted on its website  (http://bit.ly/39kLBqO). It states:

“The Wyoming Department of Health is closely monitoring the current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak situation and sharing recommendations. At this time, the risk to our residents remains low. However, it is becoming increasingly likely that COVID-19 will spread to our state.

This is a new virus and new viruses need special attention. We don’t yet know how easily COVID-19 spreads and how many people will experience severe illness.”

The Wyoming Office of Homeland Security, through the Wyoming Information Sharing Program, has a global map of the outbreak, along with Web links for information from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the World

The Wyo. Information Sharing Program site from Sunday.

Health Organization. (Go to http://bit.ly/3aoPB9w and click on the COVID-19 tab.)

Neither agency speaks to what Wyoming officials are doing to prepare for the arrival of the virus.

With our current 24-hour news cycle, people are beginning to panic after hearing nightly news elevating the fears about the virus. Panic buying is being reported around the country as people begin to stock up supplies for the possibility home quarantines. A great deal of misinformation is being shared via social media, up to and including that Corona beer is somehow involved in the epidemic.

Local hospitals in Wyoming are already reporting shortages of necessary supplies to protect patients and staff from the virus. Does Wyoming have stockpiles of respirator masks? Can Wyoming hospitals adequately handle an influx of feverish, respiratory compromised patients? Do we have enough drugs available for current treatment modalities?

It’s time for Wyoming public officials to step up to the mic to share the State of the State when it comes to Wyoming’s preparedness for worst-case virus outbreak scenarios. It’s also the responsibility of our legislators to question governing officials to ensure their constituents are and will be properly cared for and to make certain we are prepared for an epidemic in Wyoming.

Have our state officials prepared plans, and do they have the resources to address:

— Testing for the virus. Is Wyoming dependent on an overburdened CDC laboratory for testing to diagnose an infected patient? How will they test?

—  Do our hospitals have the capacity to treat residents of Wyoming who may need inpatient care?

—  Do our hospitals have the medical supplies they need to effectively manage and treat a disease outbreak for which there is no vaccine?

—    Is the state prepared to quarantine sick people, and if not, what is the plan?

— Does the state have a plan for public safety? Public safety can include recommendations and or orders shutting down public gatherings, movie theaters and places of worship. Public safety can also include plans for replacing sick law enforcement officers. Think of the Wyoming Highway Patrol officers stopping those West Coast drivers on the interstates. Are procedures being discussed to keep these and all officers free from the Coronavirus?

— What is Wyoming’s response to a shortage of trained medical personnel to treat infected persons? Imagine a prison guard carrying the virus into a state prison. Are there enough medical personnel available to treat an incarcerated population?

Certainly, these questions and concerns are only the tip of the virus iceberg facing our health officials and elected officials. Our local and state officials have a responsibility not to create public panic, but the time has come for them to address these issues with the public.

The public can expect they’ll say, “Yes, we have contingency plans for an epidemic and have for years. In fact, we’ve had recent roundtable discussions with key operatives.” And, of course, there also will be: “We can’t discuss all the aspects of these plans for security reasons. You’ll have to trust that the government will ensure the public health and safety of Wyoming’s citizens.”

In God we trust. All others must bring facts.

            Steve Myrum is a Cheyenne writer.