Mask mandate in effect for Teton County, state of emergency declared in Victor

JACKSON HOLE, Wyo. — A mask mandate is back in effect in Teton County effective immediately.

After review of public comments submitted and in consultation with the State Health Officer Alexia Harrist, Teton District Health Officer Travis Riddell has issued Public Health Order #21-5 requiring face masks for Teton County, including the Town of Jackson. The order goes into effect immediately on August 26 and will remain in effect through September 4.

Both the town council and the board of county commissioners will also decide if they want to extend the order beyond September 4 in the town and county, respectively.

“Taking into account the public comment submitted and looking at the current high transmission of COVID-19 in Teton County, it is important to issue this health order to help stop the spread of COVID-19 in our community,” Riddell said. “Wearing a face mask is one of the many preventative public health measures along with staying home when sick and the COVID-19 vaccines to help slow the transmission of COVID-19 in the community and keep our healthcare system from becoming overwhelmed. We ask the entire community to work together to help stop the spread of COVID-19 and protect those in our community who are more vulnerable or who are not able to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.”

The public health order mandates the use of face coverings in all indoor setting in Teton County. It does not mandate masks in any outdoor situations. The Teton District Public Health Order #21-5 requires that:

• Persons wear a face mask inside any business or government facility open to the public, healthcare facility, riding in a taxi, or public transportation.
• K-12 schools and postsecondary institutions shall require all students, teachers, school staff, and visitors to wear face masks.
• There are multiple exceptions to the order, including if a person has a medical condition for whom wearing a face mask would adversely affect their ability to breathe.

Meanwhile, over the hill, Victor Mayor Will Frohlich announced a state of emergency in Victor due to surging COVID cases. The Emergency Declaration is an administrative tool that allows the city to more quickly and efficiently serve the community as COVID-19 evolves.

“It is unfortunate we are in this situation, but the Delta variant is extremely dangerous,” Frolich said. “Our local cases have grown exponentially over the last weeks and instituting social distancing practices and a mask mandate may once again become necessary to contain the spread of COVID-19 and protect yourself and our vulnerable neighbors.”

There are currently 357 active cases in the Eastern Idaho Public Health District area with 26 of those being from Teton County. Teton County has the highest case per 10,000 rate in the region at this time. Last week, the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare projected the State numbers hitting a new high within a few weeks. This is all due to the low level of vaccination in the State and the increased ability to spread that the Delta variant has.