On Wednesday, Sept. 16,

the COVID-19 Response Group confirmed four schoolrelated

COVID-19 cases – two at the high school and

two at the middle school.

Overall, 18 new cases of COVID-19 were reported

across the county over the last 11 days. Forty-five to

55 people are in isolation or quarantine in the Boulder,

Daniel and Pinedale areas.

Janna Lee, Public Health nurse manager, called the

most recent cases in the county community spread in a

briefing on Thursday, Sept. 17, because they have been

unable to trace several cases back to any known cases.

Students who test positive for the coronavirus will

be excluded from school through isolation orders from

public health officials, and will be allowed to return to

school when the isolation order is lifted.

Families will be receiving an email from Public

Health if their student had any possible contact with the

student. If you receive this email from Public Health,

please monitor your student and contact your medical

provider if they have any symptoms. This does not

mean that your student needs to quarantine. Anyone

who needs to quarantine will be called on the phone

directly by Public Health.

The Sublette County Rural Health Care District is

currently offering testing for COVID-19, Influenza, and

Strep for symptomatic patients Monday through Friday

in Pinedale from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. and in Marbleton

from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Appointments for collection are required and will need to be made with the front desk

at either clinic location and clear directions will be given as to where to go and how the

testing will be completed.

Results may take up to 24 hours. Clinic staff will call with results once complete

or results can be viewed on MyChart, the clinics’ medical records system. If you need

MyChart access please inquire with the front desk.

These tests will be free of charge for all children 18 years of age and under. If you are

over the age of 18 and asymptomatic or have a known exposure, please contact Public

Health to determine whether or not you qualify for testing.

It may be possible that you will be required to see a provider depending on symptoms

and test results. Collection personnel will ask screening questions to determine if you

need to be seen.

In total, Sublette County has had 68 total cases of COVID-19. There are 14 active

cases in the county, Lee added.

Public Health Officer Dr. Brendan Fitzsimmons encouraged Sublette County to be

vigil in doing what they can to prevent spread. He also praised the Public Health nurses

for working on contact tracing in each case and asked the public to cooperate with the

process.

Lee is encouraging everyone to wear masks in public, maintain social distancing and

wash hands frequently.

Fitzsimmons said, during the weekly update, that those students that have been

quarantined have been facing bullying and ridicule on social media that is making the

situation more difficult.