Restrictions on restaurants loosened

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Governor Mark Gordon has worked with the Wyoming Department of Health to ease restrictions on restaurants in the state while continuing efforts to keep the public safe. This comes in new public health orders.

The changes to Health Order No. 1 no longer require restaurants to space out seating in booths and increases the permitted number of persons at a table from 6 to 8 persons. Larger tables are permitted for members of the same household. This increase in the number of persons per table also applies to indoor and outdoor gatherings listed in Order No. 2. Outdoor seating is still encouraged.

“Even in the face of a rising number of active cases, we recognize that the restaurant industry has faced challenges throughout this pandemic,” Governor Gordon said. “Nevertheless, they have really responded to ensure the safety of their customers. These are important steps that will help our restaurants recover and safely welcome more customers throughout the fall and winter.”

The updated health orders reflect Wyoming Department of Health (WDH) data that shows that sit-down dining in restaurants has not significantly contributed to the spread of COVID-19 throughout the state. The Governor expressed his desire to take an incremental approach to ensure restaurants can adjust to the coming cool weather months when outdoor dining may not be possible.

The success of procedures implemented by K-12 schools across the state, including social distancing and mask usage, have continued to be effective in preventing widespread outbreaks. As a result, updated guidance issued to school districts will no longer require quarantine of close contacts if both the infected individual and those in contact with them were wearing face masks. This change in guidance is specific to schools at this time.

Wyoming is also in the process of updating its statewide guidance consistent with federal regulations that permit indoor visitation at nursing homes and assisted living facilities. That guidance will be published later this week.

The updated health orders take effect October 1. They can be found on Wyoming’s COVID-19 website.