
Traffic rolls through downtown Casper as some businesses remain open amid the growing COVID-19 pandemic March 25.
The six cases of coronavirus identified so far in Natrona County can be tied to two groups of individual clusters and are likely not the result of community spread, the health department here said Thursday.
"With the information we have been provided by the Wyoming Department of Health, in regard to the current positive cases in Natrona County, that has been collected through contact tracing we do not believe there is community spread within Natrona County right now," the Casper-Natrona County Health Department said in an announcement. "Currently, we believe the six positive cases within Natrona County to be part of two epidemiologically traced clusters.
"This means that all Natrona County cases can be tied to two groups of a positive origin."
If the disease has been shared via community spread, it would mean people couldn't trace from whom they got it. In other parts of Wyoming -- notably Teton County, where there's been seven cases -- officials have said there is evidence of community spread.
As of Thursday at noon, there are 53 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Wyoming, a nearly 100 percent increase in just a few days. Nationally, there have been at least 75,000 cases and more than 1,000 deaths.
Health officials here say the additional positive cases in Natrona County are largely due to an increase in testing. Other have previously said it's difficult to get a true read on the presence of the disease here because of limited testing capabilities.
"This is evidence that social distancing is working," the health department said. "By tracing all new positives back to an identified positive source it provides clear evidence that by restricting events, business and other measures we are flattening the curve in Natrona County."
Photos: Casper restaurants pivot to delivery and takeout
Cheese Barrel

Cashier and hostess Angeles Morales prepares a takeout order Friday at the Cheese Barrel. Restaurants in Wyoming are turning to takeout and delivery to bring in revenue during the closures ordered to slow the spread of coronavirus. Cheese Barrel offers takeout but its experiments with delivery didn't work.Â
Cheese Barrel

A sign informs customers at the Cheese Barrel that the restaurant can only offer take-out orders.Â
Cheese Barrel

The Cheese Barrel dining room on Friday sits empty during what’s usually a busy lunch hour. The Small Business Administration is offering disaster loans for Wyoming businesses hurt by the coronavirus pandemic.
Cheese Barrel

Cook Aubrey Moon prepares a take-out order Friday at the Cheese Barrel.
Vintage

Bar manager Cece Tolin on Thursday evening pours wine for customers at Vintage Fine Wine and Martini Bar.Â
Metro Coffee

Carter Peverly makes a beverage for a customer Thursday evening at Metro Coffee. The coffee shop is now offering curbside only service by call in or an ordering website the business is creating.
Metro Coffee

Metro owners Krisinda Wilcox and Sean Peverley work on plans for their business Thursday at the coffee shop after an announcement that coffee shops and other businesses would have to close their gathering spaces. Metro plans to offer curbside service.Â
Metro Coffee

Carter Peverly makes a beverage for a customer Thursday evening at Metro Coffee. The coffee shop is now offering curbside service that customers can purchase online or over the phone.
Pick-up order at HQ

Todd Allen picks up food for his family Thursday at HQ Southern BBQ in Evansville, which is promoting its "stuck-at-home" specials in light of the coronavirus. Workers around the state have been left in limbo now that many businesses are forced to close for at least two weeks.
Pick-up order at HQ

Bar Manager Olivia Frias takes a pick-up order by phone Thursday at HQ Southern BBQ.Â
With people staying home, the restaurant sold almost $3,000 in "to-go" orders Wednesday night, Frias said. HQ has experienced a surge in pick-up orders and its "stuck at home" specials for $30 and $60 until April 8 have been popular.Â
"We are bumping with to-go's; it's really nice," Frias said.
Pick-up order at HQ

Damion Howle picks up a to go order Thursday from bar manager Olivia Frias at HQ Southern BBQ in east Casper. Â