Updated after press conference Friday at 3:45 p.m.

CHEYENNE — To slow community transmission of coronavirus, Gov. Mark Gordon has extended the three existing statewide health orders through April 30; issued a new directive requiring non-work travelers to Wyoming to immediately self-quarantine for 14 days; and stressed again the importance of staying home and practicing good hygiene.

In an impassioned speech during a press conference Friday, Gordon urged Wyomingites to follow the recommendations of top officials in the nation and state.

"We are all saying one thing: Stay home. Wash your hands. Maintain six feet of distance between yourselves. Only go to the store as an individual, not as a group. Do not congregate in groups of more than 10, and if you're in the store, for heaven's sake, do not allow customers to mingle in the aisles and checkout lines," the governor emphasized.

"...If you're waiting for me to issue a 'shelter-in-place order,' when you have Dr. Wheeler, Dr. Dowell telling you you should stay home, and I am telling you to stay home — what are you waiting for?" Gordon continued. "Are you waiting for 'Mother, may I?' Or are you taking care of yourself and practicing the common sense that we expect? One of our Wyoming values is talk less and say more. Our orders talk less and say more."

Gordon and State Health Officer Dr. Alexia Harrist also discussed the extension of the public health orders. 

The current orders close public places, including schools; prohibit gatherings of 10 people or more in a single room or confined space, including outdoors; and close bars, restaurants, coffee shops and some personal services businesses. Food establishments may continue to provide delivery services, but carry-out service is now required to take place curbside. See the public health orders on the governor's website.

Grocery stores have been advised to limit the number of people in the store, Gordon added. Residents are encouraged to have one member of the household do the shopping and stick to essentials.

“The decision to extend these orders was made to save lives and keep people at home,” Gordon said. “We are seeing community transmission of COVID-19 occur around the state and we will continue to see more confirmed cases in the weeks to come. This action will help lower the rate of transmission and protect both our healthcare system and the healthcare workers we all rely on.”

Wyoming continues to see community spread of COVID-19, Harrist noted, and social distancing measures remain the most effective means to slow the spread of the virus — especially since community spread is evident.

“We need everyone to stay home as much as possible,” Harrist said. “Anyone can spread this disease, even if they don’t yet realize they are ill.”

The governor has also issued a new directive requiring any individual coming to Wyoming from another state or country for a non-work-related purpose to immediately self-quarantine for 14 days. For visits fewer than 14 days, that individual must self-quarantine for the duration of the visit. The directive is intended to discourage out-of-state visitation during the pandemic and reduce the spread of COVID-19. View the directive here.

“We know that travel from another state or country is a source of COVID-19 infections in Wyoming," Gordon said. “Visitors from neighboring states have strained the resources of many Wyoming communities so we are asking them to do the right thing to protect the health of our citizens and the resources of our rural healthcare facilities.”