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Green monopoly houses sit in a row against a stark, white background. — woodleywonderworks / Flickr Creative Commons

How Nevada's Eviction Moratorium Works

Like the rest of the country, Nevada is seeing a record-breaking spike in unemployment claims. In response, Governor Steve Sisolak placed a moratorium on evictions during the COVID-19 pandemic. KUNR’s Paul Boger reached out to Rita Greggio, a lawyer with Washoe Legal Services, a nonprofit legal aid organization, to talk about what the governor’s directive means.

An illustration of an ultrastructural morphology exhibited by coronaviruses. — Alissa Eckert, MS; Dan Higgins, MAMS / Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Novel Coronavirus In Nevada: Live Blog

The exterior of the Willow Springs facility in Reno, Nevada. — Google Maps

Examining The COVID-19 Outbreak At Willow Springs

WCSD Trustees End Superintendent Search, Will Likely Appoint McNeill

By Paul Boger • Apr 1, 2020

Interim Superintendent Kristen McNeill stands at a podium speaking to reporters during a press conference. — Paul Boger / KUNR Public Radio

The Washoe County School District Board of Trustees has voted to end its search for a new superintendent and will likely name Interim Superintendent Kristen McNeill to the district’s top position.

More Patients Turning To Telehealth, But Rural Communities Face Barriers

By Anh Gray • Apr 1, 2020

An unoccupied clinic room in Elko with an exam bed, counter, seating and essential tools, including gloves, swabs and a sharps container. — Brin Reynolds / University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine

Coverage of novel coronavirus is supported by the Mick Hitchcock, Ph.D., Project for Visualizing Science, a science reporting project from the Reynolds School of Journalism.

As the novel coronavirus threatens health care capacity in Nevada, more doctors are turning to telehealth to stem the spread of infection. While virtual visits are recommended, there are challenges to this type of care, especially in rural communities.

What Will Nevada's Health Care Worker Shortage Mean For Its COVID-19 Response?

By Bree Zender • Apr 1, 2020

Female surgeon looks down while other workers care for a patient behind her. — PickPik

The novel coronavirus pandemic has created shortages of medical supplies, especially personal protective equipment, across the nation. The crisis is also exacerbating health care capacity in Nevada.

While the shortage of providers had already been a problem before, it could hamper the state response to COVID-19, according to Dr. John Packham of the Office of Statewide Initiatives at the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine. He said the shortages of medical staff spans a broad array of practices.

Mountain West Cities Confront Homeless People's Vulnerability To COVID-19

By Madelyn Beck • Apr 1, 2020

Just being homeless puts you at greater risk for getting and spreading COVID-19. And several homeless residents have tested positive for the disease around the Mountain West, from Denver to Las Vegas. That’s forcing community leaders and shelter owners to take precautions.

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Las Escuelas Del Distrito Escolar De Washoe Pasan A La Educación A Distancia

By Lesly Virgen-Mariscal & Paul Boger • Apr 1, 2020

Libros de texto sobre en un escritorio en un salón de clase. — Alexa Ard

Las escuelas públicas de Nevada permanecen cerradas como parte del esfuerzo del estado para luchar contra la propagación de coronavirus. Pero para evitar que los estudiantes pierdan terreno a mitad del año académico, los distritos están recurriendo a planes de educación a distancia — osea por Internet. Para hablar de lo que esto significa para los 64,000 estudiantes inscritos en las escuelas del condado de Washoe, Paul Boger con la radio pública KUNR habló con Debbie Beirsdorff, la directora académica del distrito.

Trump Could Recommend Airlines Ground More Flights

By Barbara Sprunt • Apr 1, 2020

Updated at 7:29 p.m. ET

President Trump says he may consider grounding some or all flights as a coronavirus pandemic mitigation measure but also said on Wednesday he wants to apply the lightest touch possible in managing the disaster.

Citing COVID-19, EPA Puts Big Polluters On The Honor System

By Nate Hegyi • Apr 1, 2020

Some of the nation's top polluters are now running on the honor system after the Environmental Protection Agency last week announced relaxed enforcement of environmental regulations amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

How COVID-19 Threatens An Accurate Census Count In The Mountain West

By Savannah Maher, Noah Glick & Nate Hegyi • Apr 1, 2020

You probably got a letter in the mail recently from the U.S. Census Bureau asking you to fill out its survey. And maybe you're thinking, I don't have time for this! I just lost my job and I don't know how I'm going to pay my mortgage in the next couple of months! My kids are home and they're driving me crazy!

Who's Sickest From COVID-19? These Conditions Tied To Increased Risk

By Allison Aubrey • Apr 1, 2020

A new analysis from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention finds that people with chronic conditions including diabetes, lung disease and heart disease appear to be at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19.

'Social Distance': A Community-Style Poem To Help You Feel Less Isolated

By Rachel Martin • Apr 1, 2020

Now more than ever we are looking for ways to feel less alone — and poetry can be one way to bring people together.

Last month NPR asked listeners to respond to art with a poem — a style of poetry called ekphrastic. For inspiration, Kwame Alexander, NPR's poet in residence, selected two paintings: Kadir Nelson's Heatwave and Salvador Dali's Young Woman At A Window. Both show women inside looking longingly out into the world.