The number of Park County residents actively infected with COVID-19 is continuing to approach the highest levels of the pandemic, while additional deaths are being tied to the disease.

As of Wednesday afternoon, the Wyoming Department of Health reported 248 active confirmed and probable cases of the disease in Park County. That was up from 212 such cases a week earlier.

The number of patients hospitalized with the disease within the county also rose week-over-week, from 16 patients on Sept. 29 to 18 on Wednesday. That included 10 patients at Cody Regional Health and eight at Powell Valley Healthcare.

Recent testing of the City of Cody’s sewage for the presence of the novel coronavirus indicates cases may continue increasing, according to Park County Health Officer Dr. Aaron Billin.

“The wastewater testing results for Cody were trending down, but have now plateaued and will likely rise,” Billin said Wednesday. He has said that a rise in the amount of the virus detected in sewage typically precedes a rise in detected cases, followed by a rise in hospitalizations and then deaths.

Billin also noted a “sharp increase” in local deaths attributed to COVID-19. Earlier this week, the Department of Health reported the deaths of another six Park County residents tied to the virus, with five of those deaths coming in September and one dating back to February for an older man who’d been hospitalized in another state. Five of those people were 65 or older, with two living in long-term care.

Those deaths were on top of five others reported last week, for a total of 54 COVID-related deaths since the start of the pandemic March 2020. They’ve come among 4,547 confirmed and probable cases recorded in Park County.

Billin continued to encourage residents to get vaccinated against the virus, to wear face masks in indoor settings when appropriate and to stay home when sick unless seeking medical attention.

“This applies to any respiratory or gastrointestinal illness that you may have,” he said of staying home. “Let it end with you and don’t pass it on to others, especially those who are most vulnerable.”

As of Monday, 11,230 Park County residents were fully vaccinated, amounting to roughly 38.5% of the population. That’s 120 more people than the prior week, and just slightly above the state rate of 38.2%, but below the national average of more than 56%.

Cody Regional Health recently shared data saying that 83.8% of the COVID-19 patients seen in the organization’s emergency department in August (119 of 142) and 82% of COVID patients admitted to the hospital that month (41 of 50) were unvaccinated.

Cody Regional Health is currently partnering with Park County Public Health and the Wyoming National Guard to provide additional, free COVID testing from 1-5 p.m. on Mondays and Thursdays and 7-9 a.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Testing is being performed by appointment only. Results will be available in about 15 minutes, though they’re not accepted for airline travel or for students needing to return to school. To make an appointment, call 307-578-2425.