ROCK SPRINGS — While the rest of the state may be celebrating the lifting of the COVID-19 related mask mandates, Sweetwater County Public Health officials are nervous about it.

During a COVID-19 informational meeting with public health representatives, elected officials, industry representatives and members of the media, local public health officials responded to Governor Mark Gordon’s announcement about removing its statewide mask requirement and allowing bars, restaurants, theaters, and gyms to resume normal operations on March 16.

“However, with our county, we are not looking as good,” Sweetwater County Public Health Officer Dr. Jean Stachon said.

While the state’s 14-day rolling average positivity rate is 2.8 percent, Sweetwater County has a 14-day rolling average positivity rate of 11.7 as of Wednesday, according to the Wyoming Department of Health (WDH). Sweetwater County is also still having issues with transmission rates, which are based on indicators developed by the White House COVID-19 Task Force.

These indicators place Sweetwater County in the “red” category, which means the county has a high transmission level. Most of the state is in green category, which means they have low transmission and positivity rates. Sweetwater County is the only county in the state receiving a”red” designation in each category.

“For some reason, we are in the red, but most of the state is in the green and looking good,” Dr. Stachon said.

This puts the county at a vulnerable state, Dr. Stachon said. She’s encouraging residents to continue social distancing, wearing masks, and being vigilant to help reduce the transmission and positivity rates.

Dr. Stachon said they will follow the state’s recommendations, but they can request a variance for Sweetwater County if the numbers get out of control. She said they will watch the numbers very closely and carefully. Dr. Stachon said she’s hoping they can depend on vaccinations to help decrease both transmission and positivity rate numbers.

“Anyone who wants to be vaccinated, can be vaccinated,” Dr. Stachon said.

However, Sweetwater County Public Health Director Kim Lionberger said they are working through the 1a, 1b and 1c phases, but residents are encouraged to call to see if they qualify. A lot of times, a resident does qualify and just doesn’t know it.

Another surprise for the county is it will be receiving Pfizer, Moderna and the Johnson and Johnson vaccine this month, Lionberger said. The county was only going to receive Moderna this month, but was informed other vaccine is coming. As for pharmacies, Walmart and Walgreens have also received vaccine.

It feels like we have plenty of vaccine to make appointments for those who want the vaccine.

~ Sweetwater County Public Health Director Kim Lionberger

Castle Rock Medical Center’s (CRMC) percentage of positive cases were above an 8 percent positivity rate last week, according the CRMC CEO Bailie Dockter said.

She said the medical center has already given out all of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine it received already.

“It’s being received well, so if it’s open to everyone, I think it will go well,” Dockter said about giving vaccinations.

Deb Sutton, Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County marketing director and public information officer, said she doesn’t think they will change anything at the hospital with the Governor’s change in orders. Currently, the MHSC has three COVID-19 related hospitalizations, which is up from one reported on Friday.

Sutton is also reporting a higher positivity rate than the state’s county total. She said they have seen a seven-day rolling positivity rate of 14 percent out of the 57 tested for the virus.

As for herd immunity, Dr. Stachon is estimating Sweetwater County has about 35 percent, including those who were vaccinated and those who already had the virus.