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Documenting Wyoming's path to recovery from the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020-2021

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Wyoming coronavirus coverage
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Ballotpedia’s coverage of COVID-19 includes how federal, state, and local governments are responding, and how those responses are influencing election rules and operations, political campaigns, the economy, schools, and more.

This article contains a general timeline of noteworthy state government responses to the coronavirus pandemic since April 2020. It also includes details on three specific types of state responses to the pandemic:

Additionally, the article includes:


Response news updates

The following section provides a timeline of Wyoming's reopening activity beginning in April 2020. The entries, which come from our Documenting America's Path to Recovery newsletter, are sorted by month in reverse chronological order. The date shown is the day that we wrote about them in the newsletter. They appear exactly as they appeared in the newsletter.

June 2021

  • June 21: The state stopped participating in pandemic-related federal unemployment benefit programs on June 19. Gov. Mark Gordon (R) made the announcement May 11.

May 2021

  • May 12: On Monday, May 11, Gov. Mark Gordon (R) announced the state will stop participating in federal pandemic unemployment programs beginning June 19.

April 2021

  • April 22: On Wednesday, April 21, Gov. Mark Gordon (R) signed a bill establishing an emergency rental assistance program and directed $200 million in federal funding to help residents pay rent and utilities if they can demonstrate a loss of income caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
  • April 1: On Wednesday, March 31, Gov. Mark Gordon (R) announced that, effective immediately, residents 16 and older are eligible to receive a coronavirus vaccine.

March 2021

  • March 16: Gov. Mark Gordon (R) is ending the statewide mask mandate and lifting capacity requirements on businesses March 16.
  • March 9: On Monday, March 8, Gov. Mark Gordon (R) announced he would end the statewide mask mandate and lift capacity requirements on businesses March 16.
  • March 1: On Monday, March 1, Gov. Mark Gordon (R) removed the coronavirus health order governing barbershops, nail salons, and tattoo parlors. Additionally, restaurants can reopen buffet and self-service stations, and the number of people permitted to gather without social distancing increased from 25 to 50 people. The number of people allowed to sit together at indoor events also increased from 8 to 10.

February 2021

  • February 26: On Thursday, Feb. 25, Gov. Mark Gordon (R) announced that on March 1, restaurants can reopen buffet and self-service stations, and the number of people permitted to gather without social distancing will increase from 25 to 50 people. The number of people allowed to sit together at indoor events will also increase from 8 to 10.

January 2021

  • January 26: Effective Jan. 26, the capacity limit for indoor gatherings increased to 25% or 250 people, while the limit for outdoor gatherings rose to 500. Previously, indoor gatherings were limited to 25% capacity or 100 people, while outdoor gatherings were limited to 50% capacity or 250 people.
  • January 22: On Thursday, Jan. 21, Gov. Mark Gordon (R) announced he would ease some coronavirus restrictions on Jan. 26. On that day, the capacity limit for indoor gatherings will rise to 25% or 250 people, while the limit for outdoor gatherings will rise to 500. Previously, indoor gatherings had been limited to 25% capacity or 100 people, while outdoor gatherings had been limited to 50% capacity or 250 people.
  • January 11: Gov. Mark Gordon (R) eased coronavirus restrictions on Jan. 9. Bars and restaurants are now permitted to resume serving alcohol between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. Gyms are permitted to hold fitness classes with up to 25 people, up from 10 under the previous restrictions.
  • January 4: On Saturday, Jan. 2, Gov. Mark Gordon (R) announced he was easing coronavirus restrictions effective Jan. 9. On that day, bars and restaurants will be permitted to resume serving alcohol between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. Gyms will also be permitted to hold fitness classes with up to 25 people, up from 10, under the current restrictions.

December 2020

  • December 9: New restrictions are effective Dec. 9., including a statewide indoor mask requirement and a 10-person limit on gatherings when social distancing isn’t possible. Bars and restaurants are required to close nightly at 10 p.m.

November 2020

  • November 24: Starting Nov. 24, indoor gatherings are limited to 25 people if social distancing isn’t possible. If social distancing is possible, then the limit is 25% capacity up to 100 people. The limit on outdoor gatherings is capped at 50% capacity up to 250 people.
  • November 20: On Thursday, Nov. 19, Gov. Mark Gordon (R) announced he would limit indoor gatherings to 25 people if social distancing isn’t possible. If social distancing is possible, then the limit is 25% capacity up to 100 people. The limit on outdoor gatherings will be capped at 50% capacity up to 250 people. The order will take effect Nov. 24.

August 2020

  • August 12: On Aug. 12, Gov. Mark Gordon (R) issued a revised public health order that extends restrictions on restaurants, bars, gyms, and performance spaces through the end of the month and eases restrictions on outdoor gatherings beginning Aug. 16. The new restrictions on gatherings will allow venues to accommodate up to 50% capacity, with a maximum of 1,000 people so long as social distancing is observed.

July 2020

  • July 29: Gov. Mark Gordon (R) announced on July 29 that he was extending three public health orders passed on June 15 that deal with limits on indoor and outdoor gatherings and school reopenings. Indoor gatherings will continue to be limited to 50 people, while outdoor gatherings will continue to be limited to 250 people. The public health order that relates to school reopenings includes a modification that requires teachers and students to wear masks indoors and outdoors at school when social distancing isn’t feasible.
  • July 2: The state Department of Education released reopening guidelines for schools. The plan includes requirements for three different scenarios. Some requirements, like social distancing, are shared across all scenarios. School districts are required to submit their own plans in the next few weeks.

June 2020

  • June 17: The Wyoming Department of Health announced that visits at long-term care facilities could resume with restrictions. Visits can only occur outdoors and are limited to two people at a time.
  • June 16: On June 15, Gov. Mark Gordon (R) eased restrictions on public gatherings, permitting up to 50 people to gather in a confined space with no restrictions and up to 250 people at indoor events with social distancing. The new order is effective through June 30.
  • June 11: Gov. Mark Gordon (R) announced that indoor gathering limits will increase on June 15. Up to 50 people will be allowed to gather in confined spaces for any reason, and 250 people will be able to gather for permitted indoor events with social distancing.
  • June 1: Beginning June 1, out-of-state travelers can camp overnight at Wyoming state parks.

May 2020

  • May 15: Gov. Mark Gordon (R) announced that he was easing some restrictions on businesses beginning on May 15. Under the new order, restaurants can resume indoor and outdoor service so long as staff wear face coverings and tables are spaced out. Movie theaters and venues can reopen to a maximum of 25 people at a time, and gyms can provide group classes with up to 20 people.


Vaccine distribution

This section contains a table of quick facts on the state’s vaccine distribution plan and a timeline of noteworthy events, including updates on vaccine availability for new groups of individuals, changes to state distribution plans, and much more. If you know of a noteworthy story we are missing, please email us at editor@ballotpedia.org.

The Wyoming Department of Health released a distribution plan on October 16, 2020.

Quick facts

Wyoming state vaccination plan quick information
What governing entities are responsible for vaccine allocation and distribution?[1] COVID-19 Vaccination Team
Where can I find a quick breakdown of phases in my state? Phase 1 COVID-19 vaccination priorities
Where can I find the distribution plan? COVID-19 Vaccination
When was the plan first released to the public? October 16, 2020
When was the plan most recently updated? October 16, 2020
Where can I find answers to frequently asked questions? Wyoming COVID-19 Vaccine Information
Where can I find data related to the coronavirus in my state? COVID-19 State and County Dashboards
Where is the state health department's homepage? Wyoming Department of Health
Where can I find additional information about the state's vaccine distribution? The COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Plan in Wyoming - AARP

Timeline

  • May 7, 2021: Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon (R) issued a directive banning state agencies, boards, and commissions from requiring people to reveal their COVID-19 vaccine status to access state property and services.[2]
  • March 31, 2021: Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon (R) announced that residents 16 and older were eligible to receive a coronavirus vaccine.[3]

School reopenings and closures

See also: School responses in Wyoming to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic

Schools in Wyoming were closed to in-person instruction on March 15, 2020, and were allowed to reopen on May 15. The timeline below lists statewide responses we've tracked.

  • June 29, 2021: At the end of the school year, Burbio reported all schools were in-person in Wyoming.[4][5]
  • Sept. 10, 2020: At the beginning of the school year, Burbio reported most schools were in-person in Wyoming.[6][7]
  • July 1, 2020: The Wyoming Department of Education released guidance for reopening schools in the state. The state's 48 school districts were responsible for developing reopening plans in accordance with the guidance and submitting those plans for approval by the state. Each plan needed to account for three scenarios: traditional learning, hybrid learning (a mix of in-person and distance learning), and distance-only learning.[8]


  • April 29, 2020: Gov. Mark Gordon (R) announced that the statewide closure of schools to in-person instruction was extended from April 30 to May 15.[9]
  • April 3, 2020: Gordon announced that the statewide school closure, scheduled to end April 17, was extended through April 30.[10]
  • March 27, 2020: Gordon announced that the statewide school closure, initially scheduled to end April 3, was extended through April 17.[11]
  • March 20, 2020: Gordon closed all schools in the state through April 3.[12]
  • March 15, 2020: Gordon recommended that schools in the state close in response to the coronavirus outbreak and reopen no later than April 6. As of March 16, 35 of the state's 48 school districts were closed.[13]

Statewide travel restrictions

See also: Travel restrictions issued by states in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020-2021


Does Wyoming have restrictions on travel? No. The quarantine requirement for out-of-state travelers ended on May 7, 2020.[14]

More information can be found at Travel Wyoming.

Timeline

  • May 7, 2020: Gov. Mark Gordon (R) announced that out-of-state travelers will no longer need to quarantine for 14 days.[15]
  • April 3, 2020: Gordon extended restrictions on businesses and individuals through the end of April. At the same time, he issued a new order requiring out-of-state travelers to self-quarantine for 14 days.[16]


Statewide mask requirements

See also: State-level mask requirements in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020


Gov. Mark Gordon (R) issued a mask order, effective December 9, requiring face coverings in all businesses open to the public, on public transportation, at medical facilities (like hospitals, doctors offices, and veterinary clinics), and in non-federal government buildings.[17] To read the full order, click here.

On March 8, 2021, Gordon announced he would end the statewide mask mandate March 16.


Noteworthy lawsuits

See also: Lawsuits about state actions and policies in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020-2021


Officials and candidates diagnosed with or quarantined due to coronavirus

See also: Government official, politician, and candidate deaths, diagnoses, and quarantines due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020-2021

The table below lists officials or candidates who have been diagnosed with or quarantined due to coronavirus. The most recent announcements appear first.

Name Office Date Status
Mark Gordon (Wyoming) Governor of Wyoming November 25, 2020 Gordon announced that he had tested positive for coronavirus.[18]
Roy Edwards Wyoming House of Representatives District 53 November 2, 2020 Edwards died on November 2, 2020 due to complications related to COVID-19.[19]
Drew Perkins Wyoming State Senate District 29 November 17, 2020 Perkins announced that he had tested positive for coronavirus.[20]
James Anderson (Wyoming State Senate District 28) Wyoming State Senate District 28 November 16, 2020 Anderson announced he had tested positive for coronavirus.[21]

Initial reopening plan from March and April 2020 closures

Wyoming released an initial reopening plan from March and April 2020 closures on April 23, 2020. An analysis of this plan appeared in our Documenting America's Path to Recovery newsletter on July 9. The sections below include an analysis of the plan, the details of the plan, and reactions from officials to the plan

Summary from Documenting America's Path to Recovery

See also: Documenting America's Path to Recovery: July 9, 2020

On April 23, Gov. Mark Gordon announced the state could start reopening by April 30 and released A Transition Plan for a Healthy Wyoming. In a press release, Gordon said, “Our transition must be health data-driven, not date-driven. If the people of Wyoming continue to do the right thing and we see the improvements we need to see, we will continue our transition." The transition plan described general parameters for reopening: “The transition will be gradual and phased. In the weeks and months ahead, Wyoming residents should know there may be future actions, orders and recommendations put into place to continue to protect lives.” The plan also said the state might reopen along regional or local lines, depending on health data. Unlike many other states, Wyoming's plan did not include a comprehensive list of planned phases. According to the document, the state’s reopening decisions are based on the following metrics:

  • Number of new cases over time
  • Number of cases attributed to community spread over time
  • Positivity rate
  • Number of COVID-19 hospital admissions
  • Stability of hospital bed availability
  • Stability of ICU bed availability

Context

  • Wyoming did not issue a statewide stay-at-home order. Gordon issued an order closing what the state classified as non-essential businesses on March 20.
  • As of July 8, there had been 1,404 confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 in Wyoming and 21 confirmed deaths. A total of 38,577 residents had been tested, amounting to a positive test rate of 3.6 percent. As of July 2019, Wyoming’s estimated population was 578,759. Per 100,000 residents, there have been 242.6 confirmed positives, 3.6 confirmed deaths, and 6,665.5 total tests.
  • Wyoming is a Republican trifecta, with a Republican governor and Republican majorities in both chambers of the state legislature.

Plan details

Wyoming’s transition plan did not contain guidance or requirements for businesses or individuals. Below is a timeline of executive orders issued by the governor and other state officials, starting with the March 20 business closure.

March 20

Gordon ordered the following businesses and services to close:

  • Schools (K-12 and colleges)
  • Theaters
  • Dine-in services at restaurants and bars
  • Employee cafeterias
  • Nightclubs
  • Gyms
  • Museums

March 21

State health officer Dr. Alexia Harrist issued a supplemental order for individuals prohibiting gatherings of over 10 people.

May 1

Gordon authorized the following businesses and services to reopen:

  • Gyms
  • Personal care services (including barbershops and salons)

May 13

State health officer Dr. Alexia Harrist issued a supplemental order for individuals raising the gathering limit to 25 people.

May 15

Gordon authorized the following businesses and services to reopen:

  • Gyms (classes up to 20 people)
  • Indoor and outdoor dining service at bars and restaurants
  • Movie theaters and performance venues
  • Nightclubs
  • Childcare centers

May 27

Gordon raised limits for outdoor gathering to 250 people.

June 10

Gordon authorized the following businesses and services to reopen:

  • Schools (K-12 and colleges)

June 15

Gordon raised limits for indoor gatherings to 250 people with social distancing or 50 people when social distancing is not possible.

June 17

The state updated guidance to allow for outdoor visitation at long term care facilities.

Paths to recovery by state

To read about other states’ responses and recoveries, click one of the links below:

Other state government responses

To view previous coverage areas, including changes to 2020 election dates and policies, initial stay-at-home orders, coronavirus-related legislation, and much more, click a state in the map below.

https://ballotpedia.org/Government_responses_to_and_political_effects_of_the_coronavirus_pandemic,_2020_(STATE)

General resources

The chart below shows coronavirus statistics from countries across the world. The information is provided by Real Clear Politics.

Click the links below to explore official resources related to the coronavirus outbreak.

See also

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Found on page 8 of the state's vaccine distribution plan.
  2. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named WY57
  3. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named WY331
  4. ↑ Burbio rated Wyoming's in-person index at 100. To read more about Burbio's school opening tracker, click here. To read more about Burbio's methodology, click here.
  5. ↑ Burbio, "Burbio's K-12 School Opening Tracker," accessed Oct. 8, 2021
  6. ↑ Burbio rated Wyoming's in-person index between 80-100. To read more about Burbio's school opening tracker, click here. To read more about Burbio's methodology, click here.
  7. ↑ Burbio, "Burbio's K-12 School Opening Tracker," accessed Oct. 8, 2021
  8. ↑ Casper Star Tribune, "Wyoming Department of Education releases guidelines for school reopening plans," July 1, 2020
  9. ↑ Oil City News, "Wyoming schools to remain closed through May 15th," April 28, 2020
  10. ↑ Wyoming Tribune Eagle, "Gov. Mark Gordon extends statewide closure orders to April 30," April 3, 2020
  11. ↑ KTVQ, "Wyoming extends closures of schools, businesses until April 17," March 27, 2020
  12. ↑ Governor of Wyoming, "Governor Gordon and State Health Officer issue statewide closure order for public spaces," March 20, 2020
  13. ↑ Casper Star-Tribune, "Details murky after coronavirus prompts nearly all Wyoming school districts to close," March 16, 2020
  14. ↑ Wyoming News Now, "Out-of-state travelers no longer need to quarantine starting Friday," May 7, 2020
  15. ↑ Wyoming News Now, "Out-of-state travelers no longer need to quarantine starting Friday," May 7, 2020
  16. ↑ Powell Tribune, "Governor extends Wyoming’s COVID-19 restrictions through April," April 3, 2020
  17. ↑ Office of the Governor, "Statewide Face Covering Order," accessed December 9, 2020
  18. ↑ CBS News', "Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon tests positive for coronavirus," November 25, 2020
  19. ↑ Wyoming News, "Legislator’s son describes how COVID-19 came on quickly," November 15, 2020
  20. ↑ Buckrail, "Wyoming Senate president tests positive for COVID-19," November 17, 2020
  21. ↑ Star Herald', "Wyoming Senate president tests positive for COVID-19," November 17, 2020
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