Regional Novel Coronavirus Updates: Tuesday, Aug. 11
6:53 p.m. | August 11, 2020
Nevada Reports 548 Additional Cases Of COVID-19 Tuesday
By Lucia Starbuck
The Nevada Department of Health and Human Services reported 548 additional cases of COVID-19 Tuesday. The department also reported 18 additional COVID-19-related deaths statewide. There are now 981 COVID-19-related deaths in Nevada, and there have been over 712,000 tests performed in the state.
Lucia Starbuck is a corps member with Report for America, an initiative of the GroundTruth Project.
Washoe Co. Reports One COVID-19-related Death Tuesday
By KUNR Staff
Health officials in Washoe County reported an additional death related to COVID-19 Tuesday, bringing the total number of deaths there to 121. There were also 72 new cases of the virus reported and 90 recoveries. More than 1,000 cases remain active.
Gov. Steve Sisolak Signs Bill Granting COVID-19 Liability For Most Businesses
By Lucia Starbuck
Gov. Steve Sisolak signed a bill Tuesday meant to provide some businesses, and government agencies, immunity from COVID-19-related suits.
Senate Bill 4 was introduced and passed by lawmakers last week during the 32nd Special Session of the Nevada Legislature.
The measure grants businesses that follow their local COVID-19-specific health guidelines immunity from COVID-19-related death and injury suits.
The bill also offers some workplace protections, like paid sick leave for employees who have been exposed to COVID-19 or are experiencing COVID-19-related symptoms.
Nevada Asks Judge To Dismiss Trump, GOP Vote-By-Mail Lawsuit
By The Associated Press
Nevada Secretary of State Barbara Cegavske asked a judge Monday to dismiss a lawsuit filed by President Donald Trump's reelection campaign that challenges a new state law sending ballots to all active voters amid the coronavirus pandemic. Cegavske is a Republican who opposed the new law and said her department did not have the budget for the changes. But because she serves as the state's top elections official, she was named in the lawsuit filed by the Trump campaign and Republicans and is now defending the law in court. Trump's campaign filed a lawsuit last week to try to stop the new law, arguing it will undermine the election's integrity.
Governor Gives Few Details On Top California Official's Exit
By The Associated Press
California Gov. Gavin Newsom is giving few details about the abrupt resignation of the state's top health official following a data glitch that backlogged nearly 300,000 coronavirus records. Newsom addressed the public Monday for the first time since state and county health officials revealed the data glitch last week. Dr. Sonia Angell resigned from her job as California public health officer on Sunday. Newsom said ultimately the buck stops with him, but he was opaque about the circumstances of her departure. The head of the Scripps Research Translational Institute in San Diego says the data collection problem is tied to California reopening its economy too soon.
California Judge Rules Uber, Lyft Drivers Are Employees
By The Associated Press
A judge has ordered ride-hailing giants Uber and Lyft to treat their California drivers as employees instead of independent contractors. The ruling would guarantee protections such as overtime, sick leave and expense reimbursement for drivers. The ruling won't take effect right away as Uber and Lyft both said they plan to appeal to a higher court. California Attorney General Xavier Becerra praised the ruling, saying it will ensure the companies play by the rules. But the companies criticized the ruling, saying it threatens to shut them down during a pandemic-induced economic downturn that has cost millions of people their jobs.
Regional Novel Coronavirus Updates: Monday, Aug. 10
7:14 p.m. | August 10, 2020
Some Progress As Hundreds More Nevadans Contract COVID-19
By Noah Glick
Nevada’s COVID-19 Response Director Caleb Cage said 742 new cases of the novel coronavirus have been confirmed across the state since Sunday. That brings the total statewide to 56,972 positive cases.
The majority, 92.3% of the new cases, came from Clark County, while just 4.9% or 36 cases are from Washoe County. The rest were split up throughout the state.
However, Cage said that overall, the state is seeing a downward trend. The 7-day moving average has been declining, and the test positivity rate appears to be cresting, after steadily rising through July.
“What I see is two issues that I believe are improving our numbers, and those are: the mitigation measures are working, and enforcement is increasing of those mitigation measures,” Cage said during Monday’s media call.
Cage said the state is also performing between 8,000-10,000 tests every day. Nevada has performed more than 700,000 tests since the beginning of the pandemic.
Recoveries Outpace New Cases In Washoe Co.
By Noah Glick
The Regional Information Center reported 43 new cases of COVID-19 Monday, but also an additional 66 recoveries and no new deaths.
The county seems to be seeing numbers decline among key metrics. Hospitalizations, including the number of beds and ventilators in use, are all down. Active cases are down. And testing is up.
So far, 5,835 Washoe County residents have contacted the novel coronavirus, and 120 of those have died.
Current hospital capacity:
- Short-term acute care beds: 60% occupied
- Intensive Care Unit beds: 32% occupied
- Ventilators: 11% in use
Democrats Seek To Intervene In Nevada Mail-In Voting Lawsuit
By The Associated Press
National and Nevada Democrats are seeking to join a lawsuit filed by President Donald Trump’s reelection campaign. The goal was to challenge a new law sending ballots to all active voters. Democrats argue that if Trump’s campaign prevails in blocking the law, it will make it more difficult to vote. Democrats argued in court documents filed Friday night that without the new law, Nevadans would have “to choose between risking their health to vote and participating in the November Election.” A judge has not yet ruled on the Democrats’ request to join and a hearing has not yet been scheduled in the lawsuit.
Douglas Co. Reports First COVID-19 Death, Eight New Cases Across Quad Counties
By Noah Glick
Carson City Health and Human Services reported one new COVID-19-related death Monday, a Douglas Co. man in his 80s with underlying health conditions. Officials also reported eight new cases of the novel coronavirus across the region that encompasses Douglas, Lyon and Storey Counties, as well as Carson City, where 155 cases remain active.
County Breakdown:
- Carson City: 357 total cases, 60 active cases, 289 recoveries, 8 deaths
- Douglas County: 206 total cases, 42 active cases, 163 recoveries, 1 death
- Lyon County: 235 total cases, 53 active cases, 176 recoveries, 6 deaths
- Storey County: 5 total cases, 0 active cases, 5 recoveries, 0 deaths
Regional Novel Coronavirus Updates: Sunday, Aug. 9
11:22 p.m. | August 9, 2020
Washoe County Reports Two COVID-19 Deaths Sunday
By KUNR Staff
In Washoe County, two additional deaths were reported Sunday, along with 36 new cases and 65 recoveries. A total of 120 people in Washoe County have died from the coronavirus.
The state of Nevada reported eight deaths related to COVID-19 on Sunday, bringing the state’s total number of deaths above 950. More than 800 new positive cases of the virus were also reported, bringing the state’s total number of cases to more than 56,000.
Regional Novel Coronavirus Updates: Saturday, Aug. 8
11:40 p.m. | August 8, 2020
Nevada Reported 29 New COVID-19 Deaths Saturday
By KUNR Staff
According to the state’s online dashboard, Nevada reported 29 additional COVID-19 deaths Saturday, bringing the death toll to 949. There were also nearly 900 new cases Saturday, bringing the total number of cases above 55,000.
In Washoe County, health officials reporter 61 recoveries and 41 new cases. 1,155 cases remain active and 87 people are currently hospitalized in Washoe.
Sisolak Signs Bill Allowing 30-day Eviction Proceeding Stay
By The Associated Press
Gov. Steve Sisolak signed into law Friday a measure allowing courts to slow down the rental eviction process to allow landlords and tenants to try to work out a resolution. The measure was passed by lawmakers in an emergency special session to address problems related to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and criminal justice reform. The new law allows courts to grant 30-day stays on evictions to facilitate alternative dispute resolution for landlords and tenants, such as third-party mediation and prevent the courts from being overburdened. It comes as an estimated 118,000 to 142,000 households could face eviction once the statewide moratorium expires Sept. 1.
Regional Novel Coronavirus Updates: Friday, Aug. 7
7:57 p.m. | August 7, 2020
Nevada Reports 20 New COVID-19 Deaths Friday
By KUNR Staff
The state of Nevada reported 20 new deaths related to COVID-19 Friday, bringing the death toll to 920. Nearly 1,000 new cases were also reported, bringing the total of cases statewide to more than 54,500.
In Washoe County, health officials reported 88 new positive cases Friday and 74 recoveries. There are now nearly 1,200 active cases in the county.
Elko County reported ten new cases, and the Quad-Counties reported 18. The Quad-Counties include Carson City, along with Storey, Lyon and Douglas Counties.
WCSD Reports COVID-19-positive Staff Member At Hunter Lake Elementary
By KUNR Staff
The Washoe County School District reported Friday that a staff member at Hunter Lake Elementary School has tested positive for COVID-19.
In a statement, district officials said the building was going to be thoroughly cleaned Friday and that staff would resume working in the building on Monday. The statement added that no students were in the building with the affected employee.
Eight Nevada Counties Identified By State As Higher Risk
By KUNR Staff
Eight Nevada counties have an elevated risk for disease transmission, according to the Nevada Health Response team. The Reno Gazette-Journal is reporting that the counties include Washoe, Clark, Elko, Humboldt, Lander, Lincoln, Nye, and Carson City. County officials are now required to submit plans for action to the state of Nevada.
The counties were listed because they meet at least two thresholds determined by the state related to the amount of testing they’ve been conducting, case rates per capita, along with their number of active cases and the length of time their positive test rates were above 7 percent.
California Fixed Glitch That Backlogged COVID-19 Data
By The Associated Press
A top California health official says a technical glitch that caused a lag in collecting coronavirus test information has been fixed, but it could take up to 48 hours to get the data updated. Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly says up to 300,000 records might have been backlogged, but not all of them are coronavirus cases and some may be duplicates. County health officials say they've been flying blind, unable to conduct robust contact tracing or monitor health factors without timely information. Ghaly says the problem began with a computer server outage in late July. He said officials believe overall COVID-19 trends remain consistent.
Regional Novel Coronavirus Updates: Thursday, Aug. 6
7:36 p.m. | August 6, 2020
Washoe Co. Reports Two COVID-19 Deaths Thursday
By KUNR Staff
Health officials in Washoe County reported two additional deaths related to COVID-19, a woman in her 40s with no underlying health conditions and a man in his 70s with underlying health conditions. There have been 118 deaths related to the virus in Washoe County, which also reported 123 new positive cases Thursday and 80 recoveries.
The state of Nevada reported more than 700 new cases Thursday, bringing the total to more than 53,000. Ten new deaths were also reported, bringing the state death toll to 900.
Quad-Counties Report Additional Death
By KUNR Staff
The Quad-Counties announced Thursday a 14th COVID-19-related death in the region, which includes Carson City, along with Lyon, Douglas, and Storey Counties. The deceased is a Lyon County resident in her 80s with underlying conditions. There are 117 active cases there, and officials reported six new cases Thursday.
In Elko County, health officials reported 14 new COVID-19 cases Thursday, including two hospitalizations. The county now has more than 80 active cases.
Governor Sisolak Announces Changes To Address Unemployment Benefits Backlog
By Michelle Billman
Governor Steve Sisolak announced Thursday two appointments he’s making to address severe delays related to the distribution of unemployment benefits. Sisolak has appointed former lawmaker Barbara Buckley to lead the effort for finding solutions to the backlog. That could include hiring more staff or reassigning other state employees to help at the Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation, or DETR, along with more IT resources or policy changes.
The governor said in a press conference Thursday that DETR has been grappling with an antiquated computer system, fraudulent claims, and unprecedented demand during the pandemic.
Sisolak has also appointed Elisa Cafferata, former head of the state’s welfare division, to lead the department, and he signed a bill that will extend unemployment benefits and expand eligibility.
Regional Novel Coronavirus Updates: Wednesday, Aug. 5
7:33 p.m. | August 5, 2020
Nevada Reports 649 New COVID-19 Cases, 28 Deaths Wednesday
By Jayden Perez
The State of Nevada reported 649 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total of confirmed cases over 52,800. The death toll statewide is 890, according to the state’s online dashboard, with 28 deaths reported Wednesday.
Washoe County Reports 78 New COVID-19 Cases, One Death
By Jayden Perez
Washoe County reported a new COVID-19-related death Wednesday. The individual was a man in his 70s and had underlying health conditions. The new death total is 116.
The county also reported 78 new cases of COVID-19. There are now over 1,000 active cases and more than 5,500 total cases of COVID-19 in Washoe County.
Quad-Counties Report Seven New COVID-19 Cases, One Additional Death
By KUNR Staff
Carson City Health and Human Services reported one COVID-19-related death Wednesday in the Quad-Counties, along with seven new positive cases and 26 recoveries. The deceased was a Carson City resident in his 50s. There have now been 13 deaths in the Quad-Counties, which include Carson City, along with Storey, Lyon and Douglas Counties, and 127 cases there remain active.
California Virus Cases Underreported, Health Official Says
By The Associated Press
California's top health official says figures showing California has slowed the rate of coronavirus infections may be in doubt. Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly says counties haven't been receiving full counts on the number of tests conducted, nor the number of positive tests. On Tuesday, Ghaly blamed a technical problem affecting the state's database that receives lab results and makes them available to local health departments. Ghaly says it's unclear when the problem will be fixed. The announcement came a day after Governor Gavin Newsom gave an optimistic report on California's virus-fighting efforts.
California School Waivers Will Require Detailed Planning
By The Associated Press
The California Federation of Teachers, one of the state's two powerful teachers unions, is warning that reopening schools would be "reckless." They made the comment after Governor Gavin Newsom released details for California elementary schools seeking to reopen with in-person instruction amid the coronavirus pandemic. Guidelines are for public, private and charter schools seeking permission to resume in-person classes if their county is on a coronavirus monitoring list. The California Association of Private School Organizations says it has seen "considerable interest" in applying for the reopening waivers. County health officers will decide whether to send the applications to the state for final consideration.
Lyon County Cuts Its Early Childhood Education Program
By Jayden Perez
Lyon County School District has cut its early childhood education program due to coronavirus restrictions. According to the Reno Gazette-Journal, more than 250 children could be without education services.
The cut was made to increase classroom sizes for older students, as well as to address the reduced funding they will be receiving for the program. Private preschool programs might take in a few displaced preschoolers, but they don’t have the capacity to take in everyone. There are also concerns that low-income parents who can’t afford private preschools will suffer.
Washoe County School District has confirmed that it will be offering preschool programs at the start of the upcoming school year.
Get Caught Up:
August 4 | Regional Updates
- Nevada National Guard Extended
- Nevada Legislature Passes Pandemic Eviction Protections
- Washoe Co. Sees Decline In Active COVID-19 Cases Tuesday
- Changes To State Reporting Dashboard Kick Off Tuesday
- Nevada Casinos Struggle In Q2
- Quad Counties See Slight Uptick
For continued updates on the novel coronavirus in Nevada, visit our related stories page.
