CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) - Wyoming still has no reported cases of the new coronavirus but state officials are preparing to test for and respond to the disease, Gov. Mark Gordon said Tuesday.
The risk to Wyoming remains low but odds are growing the virus will appear here, Gordon said at a news conference.
“There is no immediate cause for alarm. I want to make sure people understand that,” Gordon said.
Even so, the Wyoming Department of Health is preparing a response based on its existing plans for pandemic flu, Gordon said.
State officials are working with local officials, including county emergency management coordinators, and with federal officials, including the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.
They’re preparing to be able to test for the coronavirus at the Wyoming Public Health Laboratory in Cheyenne.
They also plan to test Wyoming National Guard troops for the virus upon their return from deployments overseas, Gordon said.
However, there’s still much that remains unknown about the virus, including how easily it spreads, Gordon said.
Every community and school in Wyoming has the people they need to lead their coronavirus prevention, planning and management efforts, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jillian Balow said at the news conference.
Schools should revisit their practices for disinfecting desks and making sure students wash their hands before lunch, Balow said.
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