Governor extends mask mandate, lifts business restrictions

Gov. Mark Gordon has announced that he will soon lift public health orders that required Wyoming bars and restaurants to close at 10 p.m. 

Effective January 9, updated health orders permit bars and restaurants to resume onsite consumption from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. The updated orders also allow gyms to increase the number of participants in group fitness classes from 10 to 25. . 

Gordon also announced Saturday that the mask mandate he first issued in December will remain in effect until Jan. 25.

Gordon’s office shared three other health orders Saturday that are each on their 19th continuations — all signed by State Health Officer Dr. Alexia Harrist.

“The Wyoming Department of Health will continue to evaluate metrics as the state emerges from the holiday season,” Saturday’s announcement reads. “Counties can still opt out of the requirements if local conditions move to safer levels in accordance with White House metrics.” The state’s newest health orders expire Jan. 25.

On Monday, about 250 people demonstrated in front of the Wyoming State Capitol to protest a statewide mask mandate and other COVID-19 related restrictions.

Calls to “Stop the tyranny,” “Free Wyoming” and make Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon a “one-term governor,” were the rallying cries the protesters yelled. Outgoing Rep. Scott Clem, R-Gillette, challenged people to burn their masks.

“Burn them up,” the crowd responded with raucous affirmation.

Clem then doused a disposable mask in hand sanitizer before lighting it on fire. Some members of the crowd then threw their own masks on the fire.

Capitol security, which was monitoring the entire event, quickly came over to extinguish the small fire.

“They don’t like us burning masks,” Clem said. “We don’t like it when they trample on our freedoms.”

“The governor is killing Wyoming,” said Clem, who organized Monday’s event, known as the Free Wyoming rally, to the crowd from a podium at the foot of the steps leading to the entrance of the Capitol.

The updated health orders can be found on Wyoming’s COVID-19 website.