ROCK SPRINGS (WNE) — One of three patients hospitalized at Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County has become the county’s first COVID-19-related death, according to the Sweetwater County District Board of Health.

The patient, a 77-year-old Rock Springs man who was recently identified as a laboratory-confirmed positive case of COVID-19, was hospitalized after testing positive on Friday, July 10. He died Monday night, July 13. The man reported first experiencing symptoms on Tuesday, July 7.

The remaining two hospitalized patients are currently in stable condition and not on ventilators, according to hospital staff.

Local public health officials report that the man who died had pre-existing health conditions known to put patients at higher risk of medical complications and serious illness related to the COVID-19 virus. In an ongoing analysis of available data by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, underlying medical conditions that put individuals at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19 most often include chronic heart or lung conditions, uncontrolled diabetes and immunodeficiencies.

Among Wyoming residents, there have now been 22 coronavirus-related deaths, 1,581 lab-confirmed cases and 370 probable cases reported. There are 469 active cases, as of press time.