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Novel Coronavirus In Nevada: Oct. 14-20, 2020

Alissa Eckert, MS; Dan Higgins, MAMS
/
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Novel Coronavirus In Nevada: Tuesday, October 20, 2020

3:57 p.m. | October 20, 2020

Washoe County Reports 143 New Cases Of COVID-19
By Lucia Starbuck

Washoe County is reporting 143 new COVID-19 cases today and 51 recoveries. There are 1,526 active cases of COVID-19, the highest the county has seen. 

There have been nearly 164,000 COVID-19 tests performed in Washoe County.

For the most up to date information please visit: https://gis.washoecounty.us/COVID19

Carson City School District Offers Free Testing For Staff
By Lucia Starbuck

The Carson City School District says it will offer free COVID-19 testing for all staff members at two drive-thru events, according to Carson Now. Employees were told the dates, locations and times, according to the district. After the drive-thru events, staff members who have symptoms can be tested by a school nurse.

Pyramid Lake To Reopen To Public Nov. 2
By Lucia Starbuck

Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe announced that Pyramid Lake is scheduled to reopen for day use, camping, boating and fishing on Nov. 2.

State Route 446, which runs between Pyramid Lake Highway and Gerlach Road, will also reopen on Nov. 2. 

Support Lucia's Report for America reporting. Headshot of Lucia Starbuck. She is sitting in the KUNR newsroom and smiling.

We need your support to ensure this vital reporting continues. Show your support by making a gift – Click Here

10:06 a.m. | October 20 2020

Quad Counties Report COVID-19-Related Death
By Danna O'Connor

Carson City Health and Human Services is reporting an additional death due to COVID-19 in the Quad-County Region. 

As of Monday, officials report 17 new cases and 14 additional recoveries of the coronavirus.  This brings the total number of cases to 1,620, with 1,411 recoveries and 20 deaths.

There is a drive-thru flu vaccination and COVID-19 testing event for Quad-County residents on Wednesday from 4-6 p.m. at Carson Middle School and another on Thursday from 3-5 p.m. at the Silver Springs Senior Center.   

Elko County Reports 47 New Cases Of COVID-19
By Danna O'Connor

Elko County reported 47 new cases of COVID 19 and 22 recoveries from the virus as of Monday.  Nine active cases are currently hospitalized.   

There are now 1,227 confirmed cases and 11 deaths from COVID 19 in the county.

There will be free testing for COVID 19 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Peppermill in West Wendover on Wednesday and at the Elko County Fairgrounds on Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Novel Coronavirus In Nevada: Monday, October 19, 2020

7:38 p.m. | October 19, 2020

Washoe County Reports It’s 186th COVID-19 Related Death
By Stephanie Serrano

Washoe County reported a new COVID-19 related death: a male in his 40s with underlying health conditions. Additionally, there were 107 new COVID-19 cases and 104 recoveries reported on Monday. 

There are more than 1,400 (1,434) active cases. The county has surpassed 11,500 (11,551) total cases. The death toll has risen to 186. 

Thousands of Washoe County Residents Participated In The First Days of Early Voting
By Stephanie Serrano

Thirteen-thousand Washoe County residents showed up to the polls during the first three days of in-person early voting. Election officials are encouraging voters to use the website’s wait time app to find the polling location with the shortest estimated wait time. 

Over the weekend, polling locations stationed in libraries had more than an hour wait time, while bigger locations like the Lawlor Event Center and the Reno Convention Center had relatively shorter wait times, officials said. 

According to the Washoe County Registrar of Voters Office, they’ve received 42,000 mail-in ballots. Some of those are being challenged and mailers are being sent out to the hundreds of people who need to verify their signature or may have forgotten to sign the return envelope. 

The Mountain West Football Season Will Begin This Weekend
By Stephanie Serrano

After delays related to the mitigation of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Mountain West will begin its 22nd season this Saturday. The season will consist of eight conference games and the top two teams will face each other in the Mountain West football championship. 

The University of Nevada football team will host Wyoming this Saturday for their anticipated season opener.  

Hoover Dam Is Reopening To The Public On Tuesday
By The Associated Press

The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation is reopening Hoover Dam to the public on Tuesday, seven months after it closed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Federal officials say visitors will be able to access all open areas and visit the Mike O'Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge plaza and walkway. The visitor center will remain closed with no tours or exhibits available. Visitors to the dam at the Nevada-Arizona border are being asked to follow Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines when it comes to preventing the spread of the coronavirus.

COVID-19 Changes At Tahoe Ski Resorts Will Be Mostly Indoors
By The Associated Press

Skiing and snowboarding won't be much different on the slopes when Lake Tahoe ski resorts begin reopening next month; however, a variety of changes are planned indoors because of COVID-19. Capacity limits will be in place, and some resorts are adopting reservation systems. But masks and social-distancing requirements won't faze skiers. Mount Rose spokesperson Travis Bennett says the beauty of the ski industry is social distancing already exists. Wearing face coverings, masks and gloves are part of normal attire. At least outdoors, he says it's going to be business as usual. Heavenly and Northstar are the first scheduled to open Nov. 20.

Novel Coronavirus In Nevada: Saturday, October 17, 2020

8:25 a.m. | October 17, 2020

KUNR is committed to sharing information and resources on the current status of the coronavirus (COVID-19).

For the most up-to-date information on coronavirus in Nevada please visit the following websites for your area.

Nevada
https://nvhealthresponse.nv.gov/

Washoe County
https://covid19washoe.com/

Quad Counties (Carson City, Douglas County, Lyon County, Storey County)
https://gethealthycarsoncity.org/novel-coronavirus-2019/

Elko County
https://www.elkocountynv.net/alert_detail.php

Check back on Monday for our regular updates.

Novel Coronavirus In Nevada: Friday, October 16, 2020

8:20 p.m. | October 16, 2020

Washoe County Reports 123 New COVID-19 Cases On Friday
By Stephanie Serrano

Washoe County reported 123 new COVID-19 cases and 61 recoveries on Friday. 

There are just above 1,300 (1,335) active cases. The county has surpassed 11,000 (11,183) total cases. The death toll is 182. 

The Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation Will Be Offline On Saturday
By Stephanie Serrano

The Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation will be offline on Saturday between the hours of 1 p.m. and midnight for regularly scheduled maintenance. During this time individuals will not have access to resources or be able to file claims. 

This maintenance check will not impact the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance site.  

9:25 a.m. | October 16, 2020

Elko County Reports 16 New Cases Of COVID-19
By Danna O'Connor

Elko County reported sixteen new cases and seven recoveries of COVID-19 on Thursday. Twelve active cases are currently hospitalized.

So far, Elko County has:

  • 1,161 confirmed cases of COVID-19
  • 1,017 recovered cases
  • 11 deaths from the disease

The county is providing free drive-thru COVID-19 testing today from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and on October 23 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Elko County Fairgrounds. 
Medallus Urgent Care is also providing free COVID-19 testing to anyone who would like to test.

Quad Counties Report 24 New Cases Of COVID-19
By Danna O'Connor

Carson City Health and Human Services is reporting 24 new cases of COVID-19 and five recoveries in the Quad-County Region, as of Thursday. 

This brings the total number of cases to 1,563, with 1,364 recoveries and 19 deaths reported in Carson City, Douglas, Lyon and Storey counties.

There is a drive-thru flu vaccination and COVID-19 testing event for Quad-County residents today from 4-6 p.m. at Dayton High School.  

Novel Coronavirus In Nevada: Thursday, October 15, 2020

7:10 p.m. | October 15, 2020

More COVID-19 Cases Reported In Northern Nevada
By Paul Boger

Recoveries outpaced new cases of the novel coronavirus in Washoe County on Thursday.

Health officials reported 76 new cases and 224 recoveries. That brings the total number of confirmed cases of the disease to 11,060, while 1,273 remain active.

The Washoe County Health District also reported two additional deaths. In all, 182 people in Washoe County have died from COVID-19.

In the Quad Counties region, health officials reported 24 new cases and five additional recoveries. 

According to Carson City Health and Human Services, more than 1,563 cases have been reported with 180 still active; 19 people have died.

State Updates COVID Guidance For Performers
By Paul Boger

Health officials in Nevada have revised their guidance for safer gatherings to clarify that vocal performers may remove their face coverings as long as social distancing is maintained.

According to Nevada Health Response, the guidance covers any performer who communicates verbally including singers, comedians, and magicians.

A previous version of the guidance gave performers the ability to remove their masks during musical performances only.

All other mitigation measures that deal with live entertainment remain the same. That includes maintaining a minimum of 25 feet between performers and the audience.

Governor’s Staff Back In Carson Office After Positive COVID Test
By Paul Boger

Staff working in Governor Steve Sisolak’s office in Carson City have tested negative for the novel coronavirus after the head of the state’s COVID task force tested positive for the virus.

The governor's office made the announcement in a press release issued on Thursday. 

All staff who may have come into contact with Caleb Cage, the state’s COVID-19 response director, were permitted to return to the office following a full 14-day quarantine period and negative tests results. 

Cage was last in the office on October 2. Sisolak was last in Carson City in mid-September.

Nevada Cracking Down On Over 200K Potentially Fraudulent PUA Claims
By Las Vegas Review Journal

Applicants for hundreds of thousands of unemployment benefit claims filed through the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance [PUA] program will soon receive denial letters. As reported by the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the state Department of Employment, Training, and Rehabilitation [DETR] said Thursday that more than 217,500 ineligibility claim determinations will be sent out after it identified “a large number of questionable claims.” The PUA program, aimed at self-employed workers or independent contractors, provides up to 46 weeks of benefits for eligible filers. More than 480,00 initial PUA claims have, so far, been filed in Nevada. The agency said that in each case the filer either did not follow through an ID.me request for more information or the claim was flagged for “questionable identity.” To address fraud within the program, DETR said, the agency flagged and reviewed questionable claims. Individuals affected can appeal the ineligible determination.

12:12 p.m. | Thursday, October 15, 2020

Quad Counties Report 23 New Cases Of COVID-19
By Danna O'Connor

Carson City Health and Human Services reported 23 new cases of COVID-19 and 22 recoveries in the Quad-County Region on Wednesday. 

This brings the total number of cases to 1,539, with 1,359 recoveries and 19 deaths reported in Carson City, Douglas, Lyon and Storey counties.

There is a drive-thru flu vaccination and COVID-19 testing event for Quad-County residents today from 4-6pm at Douglas High School in Minden and at the same time on Friday at Dayton High School.

Elko County Reports 33 New Cases Of COVID-19
By Danna O'Connor

Elko County reported thirty-three new cases of COVID-19 Wednesday and six recoveries. Eleven active cases are currently hospitalized. 

The county now has 1,145 confirmed cases of COVID-19. Eleven people have died from the complications of the illness.

Elko County is providing free drive-thru COVID-19 testing on October 16 and 23 at the Elko County Fairgrounds.   

Community-based testing will be offered in West Wendover on October 21.

Novel Coronavirus In Nevada: Wednesday, October 14, 2020

7:26 p.m. | October 14, 2020

Nevada Reports 479 New Cases Of COVID-19
By Lucia Starbuck

The Nevada Department of Health and Human Services reported 479 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday. The department reported 17 additional COVID-19-related deaths statewide. The death toll in Nevada is approaching 1,700. 

For the most up to date information please visit: https://nvhealthresponse.nv.gov/

Washoe County Reports 178 New Cases Of COVID-19
By Lucia Starbuck

Washoe County officials reported three COVID-19-related deaths on Wednesday, including two men in their 60s and one man in his 70s. All three had underlying health conditions. There have been 180 COVID-19-related deaths in the county.

Officials also reported 178 new cases of COVID-19, the second highest number of cases reported in one day in Washoe County. There were also 81 recoveries.

The 7-day moving average is nearly 117. That is the highest point on record, according to Washoe County officials.

Cases are being attributed to private gatherings with people outside of one’s household.

There have been a little over 159,000 COVID-19 tests in Washoe County.

For the most up to date information please visit: https://gis.washoecounty.us/COVID19

Gov. Steve Sisolak Announces Small Business Grant
By Lucia Starbuck

Gov. Steve Sisolak announced the Pandemic Emergency Technical Support Grant for small businesses in Nevada on Wednesday. 

Qualifying businesses will receive $10,000 and the funding is not required to be paid back.

Businesses hit the hardest by the pandemic will be prioritized, including restaurants, bars, nonprofits, and businesses owned by minorities, women, veterans and business owners with disabilities.

The Nevada State Treasurer, Zach Conine, said in a press conference these funds are crucial for some small businesses to keep the lights on.

“Having to choose between keeping employees on payroll or paying bills like rent and utility costs can seem like an impossible decision. That's why it's important that businesses have access to funds during this economic crisis.”

Conine said the funds will cover about 2,000 businesses in the state. Businesses that are ineligible include those that have more than 50 employees, made more than $4 million in gross revenue last year, are owned by a publicly traded company or are not deemed legal at the federal level.

Online applications open Monday, Oct. 19 at 8 a.m. and will be open for two weeks.

To learn more about the Pandemic Emergency Technical Support Grant please click here.

Gov. Steve Sisolak Issues Advisory On How To Celebrate Halloween Amid Pandemic
By The Associated Press

Trick-or-treating is canceled this year at the Nevada Governor's Mansion due to the COVID-19 pandemic. State health officials are also advising people marking Halloween and the weekend Mexican festival El Día de los Muertos to avoid large gatherings. Gov. Steve Sisolak said on Wednesday that the mansion will be decorated for the holiday weekend. But he says that to keep staff and visitors safe, annual festivities will not take place. The state pandemic response office issued advisories in English and Spanish against making door-to-door visits and saying that costume masks do not count as a face covering. To learn more about the governor’s safety advisory for Halloween please clickhere. To learn more about the governor’s safety advisory for Día de Los Muertos in English please clickhere. To learn more about the governor’s safety advisory for Día de Los Muertos in Spanish please clickhere.

COVID-19 Up At California Religious School; Leader Slams Masks
By The Associated Press

Coronavirus cases linked to a Northern California evangelical college have doubled over the last week to 274. A senior leader at Bethel Church in the city of Redding attracted attention this week for an Instagram video criticizing masks as worthless. KRCR-TV reports that Shasta County officials say the cases are tied to the Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry. Shasta County has the highest rate of new cases in California. Health officials say the outbreak among students and staff at the Bethel school have driven the county's recent COVID-19 spike. That prompted state officials last week to restore more restrictions on restaurants, bars and other businesses there.

9:33 a.m. | October 14, 2020

Elko County Reports Eight COVID-19 Cases Within Elko County Jail
By Lucia Starbuck

Elko County officials reported eight COVID-19 cases within the Elko County Jail, including six inmates and two staff members on Tuesday.

A staff member tested positive last week, so staff members and inmates were offered testing over the weekend. Some tests are still pending. The inmates who tested positive for COVID-19 have been isolated and are being monitored by the jail medical team, according to the statement.

Elko County Reports 19 New Cases Of COVID-19
By Danna O'Connor

Elko County reported nineteen new cases of COVID 19 yesterday and eleven recoveries from the virus. Nine active cases are currently hospitalized.

The county now has 1,112 confirmed cases of COVID 19 and 11 deaths from the disease.

Elko County is providing free drive-thru COVID-19 testing on October 16 and 23 at the Elko County Fairgrounds.   

Community-based testing will be offered in West Wendover on October 21st.

Quad Counties Report Two Additional Deaths Due To COVID-19
By Danna O'Connor

Carson City Health and Human Services reported two additional deaths due to COVID-19 on Tuesday in the Quad-County Region. 

Health officials also report 23 new cases of COVID 19 with 21 recoveries. This brings the total number of cases to 1,516, with 1,337 recoveries and 19 deaths from the virus.   

There is a drive-thru flu vaccination and COVID-19 testing event for Quad-County residents Wednesday from 4-6pm at Eagle Valley Middle School in Carson City, and Thursday at the same time at Douglas High School in Minden.

Support Lucia's Report for America reporting. Headshot of Lucia Starbuck. She is sitting in the KUNR newsroom and smiling.

We need your support to ensure this vital reporting continues. Show your support by making a gift – Click Here

Get Caught Up:

October 13, 2020 | Regional Updates

  • Two Midtown Bars With Interactive Games Get Notice Of Violation From City Of Reno
  • Nevada's COVID-19 Response Director Tests Positive For The Virus
  • UNR Suspends In-Person Learning After Fall Break
  • COVID-19 Outbreak Reported At Assisted Living Facility In Yerington
  • Gov. Sisolak Tests Negative For COVID-19 After Staffer Tests Positive

For continued updates on the novel coronavirus in Nevada, visit our related stories page.

Danna has been with KUNR Public Radio since 1995. She started as a weekend announcer, then full time jazz host and in 2008 became the local host for NPR’s Morning Edition.
Michelle Billman is a former news director at KUNR Public Radio.
Paul Boger is a former reporter at KUNR Public Radio.
Stephanie Serrano (she/her/ella) is an award-winning multimedia bilingual journalist based in Reno, Nevada. Her reporting is powered by character-driven stories and is rooted in sound-rich audio. Her storytelling works to share the experiences of unserved communities in regards to education, race, affordable housing and sports.
Lucia Starbuck is an award-winning political journalist and the host of KUNR’s monthly show Purple Politics Nevada. She is passionate about reporting during election season, attending community events, and talking to people about the issues that matter most to them.
Jayden Perez is a former web producer and student reporter at KUNR Public Radio.
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