Think you have coronavirus? You probably won’t be tested.
During the Cody School Board, Doctors Andrew Hoene and Keith Ungrund both spoke about the current status of the virus’s spread and how Cody is and will be responding to the outbreak once there are confirmed cases. There a currently 3 confirmed cases in Wyoming, and – currently – none in the Bighorn Basin. Both doctors agree that will change. Soon. In fact, they already know its here. This isn’t a reason to panic, but it is the reality of the situation. And worth taking seriously.
That being said, even when confirmed cases start appearing in Park County, you probably won’t be tested for it. The tests for COVID-19 are not widely available and are mostly being distributed in areas with more population, as are many of the resources allocated to fighting the virus. Cody is not high on a national priority list, as it’s a small, rural, and mostly isolated area. And even if the test comes back positive, that won’t change the prescribed treatment of self-quarantine. Cody Regional Health will be saving its COVID-19 tests for patients at the highest risk, namely the elderly or those with compromised immune systems.
Cody health professionals need to save their resources for the most critically ill. The best thing you can do if you have or suspect you have coronavirus is to quarantine yourself for the two-week period until its run its course. This is the best strategy for yourself and Cody as a whole.
