Update on coronavirus in Valley, state
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BRIDGER VALLEY — As the coronavirus pandemic continues to raise its head in the world and in Bridger Valley, residents take action to ensure the new normal doesn’t completely dampen school systems and businesses.
According to Rep. Danny Eyre, HD19, Tuesday, Wyoming is expected to receive $1.25 billion in stimulus dollars from the federal stimulus package approved by the federal government. If so, Eyre agreed this would help alleviate a lot of the problems the state has experienced in setting the budget for the next biennium. He also said the cost of oil and gas had gone down since the legislature had finalized the budget. In answer to a special session, Eyre said that could be expected. At this time, the state is conducting weekly phone calls to try to stay ahead of the coronavirus issue and the problems the pandemic is creating in Wyoming.
This money is in addition to that being given to the state to assist businesses weather the coronavirus storm and the changes in how they deliver their services to communities.
Tuesday, Wyoming saw its largest one-day increase in the amount of reported confirmed cases of COVID-19, as reported by the Wyoming Department of Health (WDH). In all, 25 new cases were reported in the state as of Wednesday afternoon bringing Wyoming’s total cases to 150, with a third person a child, in Sweetwater. Some have recovered, dropping the number of current cases.
The Wyoming Department of Health reported Wednesday morning a total of 2,198 tests have been completed in the state. No deaths have occurred in Wyoming due to COVID-19. Wyoming is the only state in the nation as of the latest report from the Health Department which has not had a death from the virus.
In Wyoming, Governor Gordon also extended the school closure until April 17, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This has created problems for districts as they try to keep the learning a positive experience for the rest of the current school year.
Districts are adapting and innovating on the fly to meet the distance-learning needs of their particular communities until at least April 17 — and likely much longer. A common thread runs through the decentralized response: Student and family well-being is paramount.
Schools must create and the state must approve their adapted learning plans for remote instruction by April 6, according to Superintendent of Public Instruction Jillian Balow’s guidance. The plans will be valid through the end of the school year.
Superintendents of both Valley school districts have complimented their staffs noting they had tackled the new procedure in which to ensure the education of the students continues.
Superintendent Jeff Newton, UCD#4, said the district had anticipated the closure would be continued so when word was received the closure would continue through at least April 17, “…we have been developing a remote learning plan that will go into effect beginning on April 6.
Superintendent Damien Smith, UCD#6, said Tuesday, the new normal in meeting the educational goals of students was, “…a tough change everyone is trying to work through...We were told by the Wyoming Department of Education to make this happen, and these people went to work to make it happen and continue to do so."
In compliance with the governor’s executive orders for businesses to cut back, residents to stay home and more, the state is also supposed to get a stimulus package for businesses to use to weather the problems associated with the pandemic. The businesses can access the information from the Small Business Association for an SBA loan at https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/disaster-assistance.