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Novel Coronavirus In Nevada: Nov. 25-Dec. 1, 2020

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

Novel Coronavirus In Nevada: Tuesday, December 1, 2020

5:05 p.m. | December 1, 2020

Washoe County Report
By Jayden Perez

Washoe County reported seven deaths today caused by COVID-19. The deceased included five males and two females whose ages ranged from their 40s to their 90s. The new death total is 285.

Nearly 290 new cases of COVID-19 have also been reported. There are currently over 9,800 active cases and more than 25,400 total cases of COVID-19 in Washoe County.

More Flights And Enhanced Cleaning Measures Added At Reno-Tahoe International Airport
By Jayden Perez

Four airlines will be expanding their services at Reno-Tahoe International Airport in the next few months.

The new flights from the airport will arrive at Orange County, Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport, and Dallas Love Field Airport. In addition to the new flights, the airport has added more safety requirements to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

The new flights complement five previously announced destinations since September.

President Trump Claims Renown’s Alternate Test Site Is ‘Fake’
By Jayden Perez

Today, President Trump retweeted a post on Twitter claiming that Renown Hospital’s alternate care site is “fake.” The alternate care site was set up last month and has several hundred beds for COVID-19 patients.

In response, Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak and Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve released public statements condemning the tweet. Sisolak called the tweet “reckless and dangerous” and praised Renown Hospital, as well as Nevada health care professionals.

Mayor Schieve made similar statements and said that Trump’s tweet was an “attack on our community.”

California Faces Possible COVID-19 Hospital Crisis, Lockdown
By The Associated Press

A staggering rise in coronavirus cases could overwhelm California's health system within weeks. Gov. Gavin Newsom is warning that “drastic” action such as a widespread stay-at-home order may be needed to combat the threat. Newsom on Monday said “red flags are flying.” Hospitalizations from COVID-19 have increased nearly 90% and officials say they could triple by Christmas, overwhelming intensive care units. Public health officials say people who ignored safety measures to gather for Thanksgiving could lead to a massive surge in cases by Christmas. Authorities say about 12% of those who are infected could wind up in the hospital.

Nevada Gov. Sisolak Back In Office After COVID-19 Isolation
By The Associated Press

Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak said Tuesday he has returned to his office following completion of the self-isolation he began after being diagnosed with COVID-19 in mid-November. Sisolak said on Twitter that he and his team were continuing to work on behalf of Nevadans affected by the pandemic and he thanked those who sent him well wishes. Sisolak, a Democrat, was isolated at the Governor's Mansion in Carson City. He announced Nov. 13 that he had tested positive for COVID-19, and he said three days later that he was only experiencing mild head congestion. The governor was diagnosed as the state saw a spike in coronavirus cases that's now straining its hospital system.

Novel Coronavirus In Nevada: Monday, November 30, 2020

5:38 p.m. | November 30, 2020

Washoe County Report
By Jayden Perez

Washoe County reported four deaths today caused by COVID-19. The individuals were two females in their 80s, a female in her 60s and a male in his 90s; all had an underlying health condition. The new death total is 278.

The county also reported 420 new cases of COVID-19. There are currently over 9,600 active cases and more than 25,000 total cases of COVID-19 in Washoe County.

Nevada Virus Surge Threatens Hospital Capacity Statewide
By The Associated Press

Nevada health officials have reported 1,642 new coronavirus cases and eight additional deaths on Monday. Officials are warning that the statewide surge shows few signs of slowing as the worst month of the pandemic so far is ending. The state says there have been 152,169 confirmed coronavirus cases and 2,144 deaths since the start of the pandemic. Officials on Monday reported record-high positivity rates and hospitalizations. During the first week of new statewide restrictions on businesses, state compliance monitors cited one business. Owens Market & Ace Hardware in the small city of Carlin was fined more than $2,600 after an employee was seen not wearing a mask.

COVID Spotlights Las Vegas' Need To Offer More Than Tourism
By The Associated Press

The coronavirus pandemic's widespread impact has reminded Las Vegas officials that they need to diversify their economy beyond tourism. The Las Vegas Review-Journal reports there hasn't been a lack of trying but the need has been laid even more bare thanks to COVID-19. There have been wrenching job and revenue losses with people afraid to enter hotels and casinos and residency shows postponed till next year. North Las Vegas city officials say the region has all its money in one stock. Sin City's party image, underperforming schools and a shortage of doctors don't exactly appeal to families.

California Hospitalizations Soar, May Spur More Restrictions
By The Associated Press

California could see hospitalizations for coronavirus triple by Christmas and is considering stay-home orders for areas with the highest case rates to try to prevent hospitals from getting overwhelmed. Governor Gavin Newsom warned Monday that without more restrictions or changes in behavior, the number of coronavirus patients could double or triple in a month. Right now nearly 7,800 patients are hospitalized. But the biggest concern is intensive care cases, which increased 67% in the past two weeks. If that continues, it would push ICU beds to 112% of capacity by mid-December. The state's top health official says ICU capacity will be the primary trigger as state officials consider more restrictions.

California Urges Hospitals To Test All Workers For Virus
By The Associated Press

California has strongly recommended that hospitals test all their workers each week for the coronavirus. The recommendation comes as California reported 7,415 virus hospitalizations on Sunday, the most ever in the state. More than 1,700 of those patients were in intensive care units. The California Department of Public Health also recommends hospitals test all patients before admitting them and to promptly test current patients once they show symptoms. The California Nurses Association welcomed the news, calling it a victory for nurses. The California Department of Public Health says the weekly testing should start by the week of December 14.

Novel Coronavirus In Nevada: Saturday, November 28, 2020

2:12 p.m. | Saturday, November 28, 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, November 27, 2020

5:04 p.m. | November 27, 2020

Washoe Co. Sees Continued Virus Growth Over Thanksgiving
By Noah Glick

The Regional Information Center reported an additional eight deaths and 815 new cases of COVID-19 over the previous two days. There was no update on Thanksgiving.

There were 432 new cases reported Thursday, and 383 new cases Friday.

As of today, there have been 24,079 cases of COVID-19 across Washoe Co., with 266 deaths. 8,949 cases remain active.

County Hospital Capacity:

  • Staffed hospital beds: 83% occupied
  • Licensed hospital beds: 71% occupied
  • Intensive Care Unit beds: 59% occupied
  • Ventilators: 31% in use

County officials are asking anyone who is able to volunteer to help fight COVID-19. Additionally, they recommend downloading the COVID Trace app.
Nevada Coroner Fears No Morgue Space If Virus Not Curtailed
By The Associated Press

The coroner in Reno fears the recent explosion of coronavirus cases in Nevada could soon overtake not only the ability to treat the sick, but also store the dead. COVID-19 is now spreading so fast statewide that someone is confirmed to have contracted it every minute and someone else is dying from it about every two hours. The Reno-Sparks area has recorded 59 COVID-19 deaths the last 30 days, half of those this past week. If the current trend continues, Washoe County Medical Examiner Laura Knight says the death rate could potentially double over the next two to three weeks, and double again by early January.

Las Vegas Tourism Slumps As Coronavirus Surges
By The Associated Press

Las Vegas welcomed nearly 1.9 million tourists in October amid an autumn coronavirus surge in Nevada. The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority reported this week that the total was greater than in September but only about half the 3.7 million visitors the city hosted throughout the month a year prior. The slow and incomplete return of tourists continues to imperil the city’s overall economy and experts haven’t begun to analyze how new restrictions put into effect on Tuesday to contain the spread of COVID-19 could jeopardize efforts to bring back the concerts, conventions and trade shows that traditionally draw visitors to Las Vegas.

Novel Coronavirus In Nevada: Thursday, November 26, 2020

10:31 a.m. | November 26, 2020

Nevada Now Has 1 Virus Case A Minute, 1 Death Per 2 Hours
By The Associated Press

Coronavirus is spreading so fast in Nevada that one person is diagnosed with COVID-19 every minute and someone dies from it every two hours. State health officials said nearly half of the state’s total cases since the outbreak of the pandemic in March have occurred since September. Fully one-fourth have been confirmed in the month of November and 10% in just the last 7 days. The Reno-Sparks area has been hit the hardest in recent weeks. Washoe County's health district officer says nearly half of all the coronavirus cases there since the outbreak of the pandemic in March have been confirmed in just the past month.

161 New Cases Across Quad Counties Wednesday
By Noah Glick

Carson City Health and Human Services reported an additional 161 cases of COVID-19 Wednesday, bringing the total number of cases to 4,314. Of those, 2,062 remain active.

The agency says it will not be releasing any new information on Thursday or Friday for the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.

Carson City: 2,241 cases, 1,252 active cases, 975 recoveries, 14 deaths
Douglas County: 856 cases, 349 active cases, 504 recoveries, 3 deaths
Lyon County: 1,165 cases, 438 active cases, 711 recoveries, 16 deaths
Storey County: 52 cases, 23 active cases, 29 recoveries, 0 deaths

Nevada U.S. Rep. Susie Lee Has COVID After Seeing Dying Mom
By The Associated Press

Nevada U.S. Rep. Susie Lee says she has tested positive for COVID-19 after traveling to Ohio to visit her dying mother. Lee said in a Wednesday statement that she tested negative for the disease caused by the coronavirus on Sunday and then traveled to see her mother in Canton, Ohio on Monday. She said she took precautions including wearing a mask and social distancing. Lee’s mother was in hospice care, and Joan Kelley died Tuesday night after months of deteriorating health. Lee said she was tested again Wednesday and received a positive result. She has no symptoms.

Elko Co. Continues To See Rise In COVID Cases
By Noah Glick

Elko County reported 73 new cases of COVID-19 Wednesday, bringing the total number of cases countywide to 2,565. Currently 16 people are hospitalized, and 17 people have died in Elko Co.

The agency will not be releasing any new information over the holiday weekend, but urge all residents to be mindful while they celebrate Thanksgiving.

Novel Coronavirus In Nevada: Wednesday, November 25, 2020

6:11 p.m. | November 25, 2020

UNR To Go Remote After Thanksgiving Break, Over 1,000 Positive Cases Reported
By Lucia Starbuck

The University of Nevada, Reno will be going to full remote learning after Thanksgiving break. The university’s president, Brian Sandoval, announced the decision back in early October to reduce the risk of infections from holiday traveling.

UNR has reported a total of 1,057 cases of COVID-19 as of Nov. 20, most of whom are students.

A spokesperson for the Washoe County Health District says off-campus gatherings have been the primary driver of infections at UNR.

Washoe Middle, High Schools Suspending In-class Instruction
By The Associated Press

The Washoe County School District is suspending in-class instruction for middle schools and high schools beginning next week as part of an effort to curtail a dramatic jump in coronavirus cases in the Reno-Sparks area. The school board voted late Tuesday to continue to offer classroom teaching for elementary schools. But beginning Dec. 2, secondary students will switch to strictly distance learning instead of the current hybrid model that combines both remote teaching and in-class instruction. Middle- and high-school students currently are scheduled to return to some in-person learning on Jan. 4. But school board members intend to review the situation again at their Dec. 8 meeting.

Some California Counties Winding Down Hotels For Homeless
By The Associated Press

Some California counties are pushing ahead with plans to wind down a program that's housed homeless people in hotel rooms amid the coronavirus pandemic. It comes despite an emergency cash infusion from the state aimed at preventing people from returning to the streets in colder weather as the virus surges. Counties say that as federal coronavirus funding expires, it's time to transition residents from costly hotels to cheaper, more stable housing. Gov. Gavin Newsom recently announced $62 million for counties to move hotel guests into permanent housing or to extend hotel leases. In San Francisco, advocates are outraged by plans to start moving hundreds of people around the holidays.

Get Caught Up:

November 24, 2020 | Regional Updates

  • Noted Reno News Anchor Dies From COVID-19
  • Reimbursements Available On Portable Heaters For Carson Businesses
  • Renown Health To Monitor COVID-19 Patients Virtually
  • Warms Springs Correctional Center Experiences COVID-19 Outbreak
  • Washoe County Schools Move To Distance Learning
  • Washoe County Governments Approve ‘Super Shelter’
  • G.O.P. Lawmakers Urge Sisolak To Keep State Open

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.
Noah Glick is a former content director and host 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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