The number of people actively infected with COVID-19 in Park County has dropped slightly in recent days, though two local residents were hospitalized with the respiratory disease on Wednesday.

An older man remains at Powell Valley Hospital, where he’s been since July 8, and another resident has been admitted to a hospital in Billings, Park County Health Officer Dr. Aaron Billin announced early Wednesday morning. He said there were 44 confirmed and probable active cases, though state data put the figure at 39 as of Wednesday afternoon. That was down by a couple cases from Monday.

Most people infected with COVID-19 experience mild or moderate flu-like symptoms and recover on their own; some people experience no symptoms. However, the novel coronavirus can can cause severe illness and, in rare cases, death.

Across the state, a total of 17 COVID-19 patients were hospitalized in Wyoming facilities on Wednesday, according to data compiled by the Wyoming Department of Health.

COVID-19 has caused or contributed to the deaths of 22 Wyoming residents since March, according to state data, coming among some 1,985 confirmed and probable cases. Most of the deceased have been elderly and/or had underlying health conditions, according to state data; those populations are more susceptible to the virus.

Park County has had three hospitalizations among 88 confirmed and probable cases since March, with zero deaths.

To slow the spread of the disease, public health officials have been tracing the contacts that infected people have had with others, generally quarantining those who’ve come into close contact.

On Wednesday, Park County Public Health officials warned citizens to beware of scammers posing as contact tracers. They said real contact tracers from Park County Public Health or the Wyoming Department of Health will ask for addresses, birthdates, phone numbers and where a person has been, in an effort to identify and quarantine people who may have come into close contact with those who are infected.

However, official contact tracers “will not ever ask you for bank account numbers, money, medical insurance information or social security numbers,” said a release.

Anyone with concerns about a contact tracing call can contact public health at 307-754-8870 in Powell or 307-527-8573 in Cody.

“There are many scams out there right now,” said Park County Public Health Nurse Manager Bill Crampton. “Please be cautious of those who call and pretend to be contact tracers.”