Wyoming reports 26 more COVID deaths, a new daily record

CASPER, Wyo. (AP) - Wyoming health officials said on Monday that 26 more people have died because of COVID-19, setting a new daily record for deaths for the disease in the state.

The previous daily record for an increase in the state's death toll was 21, which was announced on Thursday, the Casper Star-Tribune reported. The state also set a new high for daily increases in cases that day, with 1,251 new cases reported.

The state's death count lags behind when the deaths occurred, sometimes by a few weeks, because the state health department does not update its tally until it receives death certificates.

So far, November's death toll is more than three times as high as the previous monthly record of 37 deaths set in October.

Nine of the deaths reported Monday were in Natrona County which has had the most coronavirus-related deaths, 45, in Wyoming.

For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some - especially older adults and people with existing health problems - it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death.