Wyoming will remove its statewide mask requirement and allow bars, restaurants, theaters, and gyms to resume normal operations on March 16.  Governor Mark Gordon cited Wyoming’s declining number of COVID-19 cases and success in distributing vaccines in lifting the restrictions.

Newly confirmed cases of the coronavirus in Wyoming have fallen to levels unseen since autumn 2020. According to the Wyoming Department of Health, they’re down to about 60 per day after peaking at more than ten times that rate around Thanksgiving.

“I thank the people of Wyoming for their commitment to keeping one another safe throughout this pandemic,” Gov. Gordon said. “It is through their efforts that we have kept our schools and businesses operating and our economy moving forward.  I ask all Wyoming citizens to continue to take personal responsibility for their actions and stay diligent as we look ahead to the warmer months and to the safe resumption of our traditional spring and summer activities.”

Almost 20% of Wyoming residents have received at least one dose of vaccine. According to the governor’s office, nearly all of Wyoming’s 23 counties have entered a phase allowing restaurant, bar, gym, and theater workers to get vaccine shots.

The statewide mask order has been in place since December 9 and after an extension was set to expire March 15.  States including Iowa, Mississippi, Montana, North Dakota, and Texas have also lifted mask mandates recently.

The face-covering protocol will remain in place in K-12 schools as a safety measure to ensure that classroom learning and all student activities can continue to occur safely; this is partly because children don’t yet qualify to receive COVID-19 vaccines.

“Wyoming is one of the few states in the country that kept students learning in the classroom for the entire school year.  We made sacrifices, but the earlier orders saved lives. We persevered,” Gov. Gordon said. “With this approach, we can have graduations, proms, and a great end to the school year by keeping schools open.  Especially since our children will not have the chance to be vaccinated this spring.”

Health officials will continue to recommend mask-wearing in public.  For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. Wyoming’s vaccination efforts are among the most efficient in the country.  Nearly 100,000 first doses have been administered, and 19% of the state’s residents have received at least one dose of the vaccine.