The following is a press release from Star Valley Health.  The first confirmed case of COVID-19 was reported in Lincoln County Thursday evening, April 2.  

Star Valley Health has confirmed its first positive test result for the Coronavirus (COVID-19) on a
community member in Star Valley. The patient called the Star Valley Health COVID-19 Hotline for
advice. The patient was evaluated via a telehealth physician visit, tested, and directed to self-
quarantine. A Star Valley Health physician has followed the patient daily monitoring their condition.
We hope for this patient’s full recovery and will continue to keep track of their symptoms.

Star Valley Health has anticipated this day for several weeks. We have an emergency readiness
plan in place and have been communicating with public health officials regularly. Bren Lowe,
Star Valley Health CEO, states, “This is a local, state and national emergency and it will require
the public’s complete cooperation to minimize the spread of this virus. Reducing virus spread is
essential to ensure that finite health care resources are in place to care for those most
impacted by the coronavirus.”

This development in the COVID-19 public health emergency means that our community
strategies to reduce transmission of this disease continue to be more important than ever.
Several strategies are key to reducing the spread of the coronavirus. These strategies include
social distancing, avoiding discretionary travel, limiting the size of gatherings, hand washing,
and tele-commuting.

Star Valley Health has established a Live Support Hotline, 885-5008, to answer questions
regarding the Coronavirus. If you have symptoms like a fever, shortness of breath, cough, body
aches, fatigue, and sore throat, please call this hotline or your healthcare provider before you
visit a clinic. Routine clinic visits or patients with non-urgent symptoms will receive care
through telehealth visits so that the patients can remain in their homes. Star Valley Health has
been transitioning all previously scheduled clinic visits to telehealth. In the case of a medical
emergency, patients should call 9-1-1 or come to the ER.

Due to the worldwide shortage of testing supplies, including in Star Valley, Coronavirus testing
is prioritized for the following: those that are severely ill and/or at major risk of serious illness,
long-term care residents, healthcare staff, and first responders. Please refer to the CDC,
Wyoming Department of Health, and Star Valley Health websites for additional information.
Also, please follow Star Valley Health social media, Facebook, for timely updates on this
situation.