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Coronavirus

This page is for Campbell County Health updates for COVID-19 news—the most recent news will be at the top.

Where to find accurate Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information

CCH IMPORTANT UPDATES

Gillette COVID-19 Town Hall

Join Gillette leaders in government and the medical field as they discuss COVID-19 and answer questions

Broadcasted 3/22/20 5:45pm - 3/22/20 7:03pm

Powered by BoxCast

Protecting Our Clinics And Emergency Department

Campbell County Health staff continues to place safety above everything else as we protect our patients from coronavirus while still prioritizing other health concerns. We are following strict and safe protocols to ensure you are safe while in our care, including:

  • Screening everyone who enters our facilities.
  • Requiring everyone to wear a mask while in CCH facilities. Cloth masks provided.
  • Practicing social distancing.
  • Keeping visitor restrictions in place.
  • Cleaning to the highest medical standards.

If you think you have COVID-19, please call your provider or 307-688-1000 FIRST before coming to the hospital or a clinic.

If you are having trouble breathing, or have a medical emergency, please call 911.

If you are in crisis and need to talk with a counselor please call 307-688-5555.

If you develop other emergency warning signs, please get medical attention immediately. Emergency warning signs include:

  • Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
  • Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
  • New confusion or inability to arouse
  • Bluish lips or face

*This list is not all inclusive. Please consult your doctor or healthcare provider for other symptoms that are severe or concerning.

Treating COVID-19 Symptoms At Home

Most COVID-19 cases will be mild and will not require hospital care. Currently, there is no treatment for the COVID-19 virus; however, there are ways to help control the symptoms. A dry cough and fever may be reduced at home with over-the-counter medications such as throat lozenges to soothe your throat, Tylenol and Ibuprofen for fever, lots of rest and plenty of fluids.

If you are caring for someone with COVID-19 at home or are self-quarantining, please follow these CDC guidelines.

Self-quarantine Guidelines

The CDC has issued the following guidelines for people with confirmed or suspected COVID 19 or those under investigation who do not need to be hospitalized, and for those previously hospitalized but medically stable enough to return home:

  • Stay at home, unless you have to get medical care
  • Separate yourself from other people in your home
  • Call ahead before visiting your doctor
  • Wear a facemask
  • Cover your coughs and sneezes
  • Wash your hands often
  • Avoid sharing personal household items
  • Clean all high-touch surfaces everyday
  • Monitor your symptoms and call your doctor if they worsen. If you are having trouble breathing, go to the Emergency Department.

According to the CDC: For COVID-19, the period of quarantine is 14 days from the last date of exposure, because 14 days is the longest incubation period seen for similar coronaviruses.

High Risk Populations

People most at risk for developing complications from a COVID-19 infection include:

  • People 65 and older
  • People with chronic medical conditions that weaken their immune systems
  • People with COPD and lung disease, diabetes, chronic heart failure, dialysis patients and others

Learn more: CDC guidelines for at-risk patients

Home Cleaning

Use a household cleaners or wipes, and EPA-registered disinfectants that are appropriate for the surface, according to the label instructions. Labels contain instructions for safe and effective use of the cleaning product including precautions you should take when applying the product, such as wearing gloves and making sure you have good ventilation during use of the product.

Clean all “high-touch” surfaces every day, such as:

  • light switches
  • counters
  • cabinets
  • tabletops
  • doorknobs
  • bathroom fixtures
  • faucets
  • sinks
  • toilets
  • phones
  • keyboards
  • tablets
  • bedside tables
  • desks

Learn more: CDC Environmental Cleaning and Disinfection Recommendations

Wyoming Department of Health

The Wyoming Department of Health (WDH) is closely monitoring the current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak situation and sharing recommendations.

  • The WDH is now able to provide testing for COVID-19, and has established testing priority levels that CCH is following. All testing must be approved by the WDH. More information is available at www.health.wyo.gov.
  • The WDH has established a contact for the public to email their questions: wdh.covid19@wyo.gov

Some of the steps that can help prevent the spread of all respiratory illnesses include:

  • avoiding contact with sick people
  • staying home when sick
  • covering nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing
  • washing hands often and carefully.

Below is information about Coronavirus from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

What is Coronavirus

According to the CDC, Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that are common in people and many different species of animals, including camels, cattle, cats, and bats. Rarely, animal coronaviruses can infect people.

How Coronavirus Spreads

According to the CDC: Mainly, Coronavirus is thought to spread person-to-person -- between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet) through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. People may get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes; however, this is not the main way the virus spreads.

Symptoms of Coronavirus

According to the CDC: Coronavirus symptoms include the following and may appear 2-14 days after exposure:

  • Fever or chills
  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • Fatigue
  • Muscle or body aches
  • Headache
  • New loss of taste or smell
  • Sore throat
  • Congestion or runny nose
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Diarrhea

Those with these symptoms are encouraged to call their healthcare provider if they develop symptoms, and have been in close contact with a person known to have Coronavirus, or if you have recently traveled from an area with reported Coronavirus patients.

Prevention of Coronavirus

According to the CDC, there is no vaccine to prevent the Coronavirus disease. The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus. To help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases, please follow the following guidelines from the CDC:

  • Avoid contact with people who are sick.
  • When you are sick, stay home.
  • Do not touch your eyes, nose, and mouth.
  • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, and throw the tissue away.
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
  • Wash your hands often. Use soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.

For more information about Coronavirus, check out:

HIPAA Reminder

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is a federal regulation that establishes a foundation of protections for the privacy of protected health information (PHI). Patient privacy is, and always has been, very important to Campbell County Health. HIPAA compliance is not waived or altered when an emergency event takes place, or when news about the coronavirus reaches our state, and our communities. This means CCH will not release any information of patients tested for coronavirus / COVID-19, or positive for COVID-19.

Our Notice of Privacy Practices describes the practices of CCH, its related and affiliated organizations including Campbell County Medical Group, Campbell County Memorial Hospital, Powder River Surgery Center, The Legacy Living & Rehabilitation Center, among others, and all of their physicians and employees. It applies to services you receive at all CCH service locations.

PHI consists of:

  • Names
  • All geographical identifiers smaller than a state
  • Dates (other than year) directly related to an individual
  • Phone Numbers
  • Fax numbers
  • Email addresses
  • Social Security numbers
  • Medical record numbers
  • Health insurance beneficiary numbers
  • Account numbers
  • Certificate/license numbers
  • Vehicle identifiers and serial numbers, including license plate numbers
  • Device identifiers and serial numbers;
  • Web Uniform Resource Locators (URLs)
  • Internet Protocol (IP) address numbers
  • Biometric identifiers, including finger, retinal and voice prints
  • Full face photographic images and any comparable images
  • Any other unique identifying number, characteristic, or code except the unique code assigned by the investigator to code the data