ROCK SPRINGS — Rumors have been circulating on social media sites that Rock Springs stores were out of toilet paper, hand sanitizer, bleach, cleaning supplies and other items residents thought they needed to fend off and prepare for COVID-19, also known as the Coronavirus.
This left many in the community wondering if this information could be trusted.
This morning we conducted our own research by visiting three stores: Walmart, Smith’s Food and Drug and Albertsons.
Here’s what we found.
Walmart: Walmart was the most impacted by residents purchasing preventative items for COVID-19. Walmart was out of bleach, hand sanitizer, vinyl gloves, most cleaning supplies and rubbing alcohol. The store was low on toilet paper, but still had some this morning.
Still some toilet paper left. 
No hand sanitizer left. 
No more bleach. 
Limited cleaning supplies 
No rubbing alcohol or vinyl gloves. Photos by Stephanie Thompson
Smith’s Food and Drug: Smiths was out of hand sanitizer and rubbing alcohol, however, it did have toilet paper, bleach, vinyl gloves and cleaning supplies left.
Some bleach left. 
No hand sanitizer. 
No rubbing alcohol.
Albertsons: Albertsons was out of hand sanitizer and rubbing alcohol, however, it did have toilet paper, bleach, vinyl gloves and cleaning supplies left.
Limited toilet paper. 
No hand sanitizer.
When presented with our findings, Sweetwater County Health Officer Jean Stachon said “It does seem kind of over panicky.”
“I think we are a moving target right now,” Stachon said. “It’s new. It’s getting a lot of press. There’s no vaccine. So, what you’re doing is preventative measures.”
She said COVID-19 acts like the flu and is passed on through droplets like the flu.
“There’s a flu vaccine for the regular flu and only 45 percent of adults get the flu vaccine; and they don’t seem to panicky about the flu,” Stachon said.
The regular flu has affected 35 million people this season with 350,000 hospitalizations and over 20,000 deaths in the United States as of week nine in February, Stachon said.
Prevention Tips
Avoid contact with people who are sick
If you are sick, stay home
Cough or sneeze into a sleeve or tissue. Then throw the tissue in the trash.
Don’t touch your eyes, nose or mouth.
Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
“All the same things you say about the Coronavirus, you say the same things every year about the flu,” Stachon said. “And yet, we still have those kinds of contagion and death rates and you don’t see that kind of panic with the flu.”
The Coronavirus is new and not much is known about it. It seems to be spread the same way as the flu.
“We know there are some cases in Colorado and there are some cases in Utah,” Stachon said.
There are still no reported cases in Wyoming, however, on March 9, Governor Mark Gordon released a statement about one person who tested positive for the Coronavirus who was in contact with Wyoming legislators.
“It has come to my attention that several Wyoming legislators attended the Conservative Political Action Conference on February 29 where an attendee was subsequently diagnosed with coronavirus,” Gordon said.
Dr. Cielette Karn said at the Rock Springs Chamber of Commerce luncheon Monday that even if someone tests positive for the Coronavirus, that doesn’t mean it’s COVID-19. There are many kinds of Coronavirus, she said. Only Cheyenne can test for COVID-19.
Stachon said the health department has been telling people for decades what steps to take to stop the spread of the flu, this is the same for the Coronavirus.
The big difference is this COVID-19 is new. Those who are encountering flu-like symptoms should stay home unless they are very ill. This is one way to keep the virus from spreading.
Stachon said residents should just go about their normal lives and keep trying to stay healthy.
