By Ellen Fike, Cowboy State Daily Wyoming’s coronavirus-related hospitalizations have continued to decline since hitting a peak of more than 230 in late November, with only 84 people hospitalized as of Thursday. According to the Wyoming hospital tracker, this was a slight increase over the 81 patients hospitalized as of Wednesday, but still is a decline from the beginning of the week, when around 88 patients were hospitalized due to the virus. Natrona County Public Health Officer Dr. Mark Dowell credited the decrease in hospitalizations to the use of face masks and social distancing. “We’re maintaining low levels in the hospital, at around 11 to 15 patients at any one time,” Dowell said. “[This] has incredibly improved due to the community masking up and doing their job. For that, I applaud you completely.”