Novel Coronavirus In Nevada: Tuesday, January 12, 2021
5:39 p.m. | January 12, 2021
Nevada Surpasses 250,000 COVID-19 Cases
By Lucia Starbuck
Nevada hit a milestone in the pandemic. The state surpassed a quarter of a million COVID-19 cases since March. The state’s death toll is more than 3,500.
Statewide, there have been an average of over 1,800 new daily cases over the last two weeks. There are over 1,800 people hospitalized with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 and 80% of staffed hospital beds are occupied, according to the Nevada Hospital Association.
And deaths continue to climb. In Washoe, 10% of the 544 COVID-19-related deaths in the county have been reported this month.
For more information, you can find Nevada’s COVID-19 dashboard here, and Washoe County’s here.
Lucia Starbuck is a corps member for Report for America, an initiative of the GroundTruth Project.
Nevada Points Finger At Federal Government For Vaccine Delay
By The Associated Press
Nevada officials are changing the state's vaccine plan in an effort to speed up the process of getting shots in residents' arms. Four weeks after receiving its first shipment of COVID-19 vaccines from the federal government, roughly two-thirds of the doses that the state has received remain in vials. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data show that six states have administered less vaccines per capita than Nevada. The state released a new plan on Monday that directs providers to administer doses to residents with underlying health conditions and specific groups of essential workers once the state finishes vaccinating front-line health care workers and nursing home residents.
California Turns Stadiums Into COVID-19 Vaccination Centers
By The Associated Press
California is transforming baseball stadiums and fairgrounds into mass vaccination sites as the coronavirus surge overwhelms hospitals and sets a deadly new record in the state. Johns Hopkins University reports that California's COVID-19 death toll reached 30,000 on Monday. The state ranks third nationally for COVID-19-related deaths. Gov. Gavin Newsom and public health officials are counting on ramping up vaccinations to help stem the tide of new infections. The Democratic governor has pledged 1 million shots will be administered this week, twice what's been done so far. Vaccination sites are planned for a Disneyland Resort parking lot, the Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, Petco Park in San Diego and the Sacramento fairgrounds.
Novel Coronavirus In Nevada: Monday, January 11, 2021
6:31 p.m. | January11, 2021
Nevada Reaches 3,500 COVID-19-Related Deaths
By Lucia Starbuck
Nevada reached a dark milestone Monday. The state has reached 3,500 COVID-19-related deaths since the pandemic began with 539 of those deaths from Washoe County.
And nearly 10% of the deaths in Washoe were reported this month.
Statewide, there have been an average of nearly 1,900 new daily cases over the last two weeks. That’s up more than 200 more cases per day than what was reported, on average, last week.
Nevada’s test positivity has gone up slightly, and is currently at 21%, meaning one out of five people getting tested are positive.
For more information, you can find Nevada’s COVID-19 dashboard here, and Washoe County’s here.
Lucia Starbuck is a corps member for Report for America, an initiative of the GroundTruth Project.
Washoe County Has Moved Into Tier Two For Vaccinations
By Jayden Perez
The COVID-19 vaccine has been in Nevada for nearly a month. Currently, Washoe County has moved into Tier Two administration which includes providing the vaccine to hundreds of educators over the weekend.
According to KOLO, the University of Nevada, Reno is finalizing its plan to distribute the COVID-19 vaccine to students and faculty. UNR will not require a vaccine to attend the university, but that may change.
Regarding older adults, there is confusion as to when people 75 or older will receive the vaccine, and Washoe County says that it expects to release a plan soon.
California Virus Deaths Top 30,000 After Deadliest Weekend
By The Associated Press
California has hit another grim coronavirus milestone. Data from Johns Hopkins University on Monday showed the nation's most populous state has recorded more than 30,000 deaths since the pandemic started nearly a year ago. Deaths have exploded since a COVID-19 surge began in October. It took the state six months to record its first 10,000 deaths. But in barely a month the total rose from 20,000 to 30,000. Over the weekend, the state reported a two-day record of 1,163 deaths. Hospitalizations also have exploded and many hospitals are stretched to the limit. Health officials have warned the worst is yet to come later this month.
Novel Coronavirus In Nevada: Sunday, January 10, 2021
8:50 p.m. | January 10, 2021
Nearly 50 Lives Lost In Washoe Since Start Of New Year
By Lucia Starbuck
COVID-19-related deaths continue to be high in Washoe County. Since the first of this month, nearly 50 residents have lost their lives to the virus.
There have been a total of 536 deaths in Washoe, since the start of the pandemic, and more than 3,400 statewide. There have been an average of over 1,800 new daily cases over the last two weeks. That’s up about 200 more cases per day than what was reported on average last week.
Nevada’s test positivity rate has remained around 20% for over a month, which is double what health officials recommend.
For more information, you can find Nevada’s COVID-19 dashboard here, and Washoe County’s here.
Novel Coronavirus In Nevada: Friday, January 8, 2021
6:00 p.m. | January 8, 2021
Nearly 3,400 People In Nevada Have Died From COVID-19
By Lucia Starbuck
Since the first of this month, there have been more than 240 COVID-19 related deaths in Nevada. This is a grim record for the state. Forty of the lives lost were from Washoe County.
Statewide, there have been a total of nearly 3,400 deaths and there are over 1,900 people hospitalized with confirmed or suspected COVID-19, according to the Nevada Hospital Association. Across the state, 83% of staffed hospital beds are occupied.
For more information, you can find Nevada’s COVID-19 dashboard here, and Washoe County’s here.
Lucia Starbuck is a corps member for Report for America, an initiative of the GroundTruth Project.
California Budget Calls For $15 Billion In Economic Relief
By The Associated Press
California Gov. Gavin Newsom's budget plan calls for using $15 billion of surging tax returns into economic relief. His $227 billion plan, released Friday, comes as he notes the state is facing "a challenge the likes of which we never expected" due to the coronavirus pandemic. Newsom says the budget addresses five urgent needs: Vaccinating people against coronavirus, reopening schools, supporting small businesses, getting money into people's pockets and preparing for wildfires. Public education also gets $90 million, mostly from a state-required formula. The Republican Party criticized the plan as too little, too late after his administration forced businesses to shutter.
Las Vegas Mayor Voices Optimism In State Of The City Address
By The Associated Press
Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman said she hopes to welcome everyone back later this year and expressed optimism after a challenging year. She gave her annual state of the city address virtually Thursday. The Las Vegas Sun reported that the city was forced to cut $124 million from its budget last year as a result of economic distress caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Goodman in her speech acknowledged the struggles, but remained positive in her outlook on the new year. She praised city efforts to help small businesses and provide housing assistance to the homeless and residents struggling to pay rent and mortgage.
Novel Coronavirus In Nevada: Thursday, January 7, 2021
6:45 p.m. | January 7, 2021
WCSD Creates Vaccination Ranking System
By Olivia Ali
As the Washoe County School District prepares to vaccinate K-12 educators, a priority system has been put in place. According to the Reno Gazette Journal, the ranking will be created based on age, health conditions and where the employees work.
District staff will be notified early next week of when they can get the vaccine. Those in the highest ranks based on the criteria can get the vaccine as early as Saturday.
Nevada Test Positivity More Than Double Benchmark Set By State
By Lucia Starbuck
The test positivity rate in Nevada continues to be high.
Statewide, that rate has been hovering at around 20% for over a month. This rate is more than double one of the state’s benchmarks officials use to gauge the spread and has kept most counties at elevated disease transmission.
In Nevada, on average, there have been over 1,600 new daily cases over the last two weeks, along with 18 deaths daily during the same time period.
In Washoe, over 30 lives have been lost in the county since the start of the new year, with 521 in total so far.
The Washoe County Health District also reported 275 additional cases on Thursday.
For more information, you can find Nevada’s COVID-19 dashboard here, and Washoe County’s here.
Lucia Starbuck is a corps member for Report for America, an initiative of the GroundTruth Project.
California Hospitals Prepping For Grim COVID-19 Choices
By The Associated Press
As California struggles with a skyrocketing coronavirus surge, hospitals are trying to prepare to possibly have to ration care due to lack of staff and beds. California health authorities have reported a record two-day total of 1,042 coronavirus deaths. The state Department of Public Health's website lists 583 new deaths today, after 459 deaths yesterday. California's death toll since the start of the pandemic has now surpassed 28,000. A travel advisory issued this week "strongly discouraged" people from out of state from entering California. It also says Californians should avoid traveling more than 120 miles from home except for essential purposes. Only Arizona tops California in cases per resident.
Novel Coronavirus In Nevada: Wednesday, January 6, 2021
7:09 p.m. | January 6, 2021
Nevada Reports Grim Record Of 60 COVID-19-Related Deaths Wednesday
By Lucia Starbuck
COVID-19 has taken the lives of nearly 3,300 Nevadans and a grim record of 60 COVID-19-related deaths were reported today.
Washoe is also seeing a high number of deaths, with 29 lives lost in the county since the start of the new year. There have been a total of 518 deaths so far.
Statewide, an average of nearly 1,600 new daily cases have been reported. In Nevada, the test positivity rate has remained around 20% for a little over a month and 81% of staffed hospital beds are occupied, according to the Nevada Hospital Association.
Washoe officials reported 255 additional cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday as well.
For more information, you can find Nevada’s COVID-19 dashboard here, and Washoe County’s here.
Washoe County To Vaccinate K-12 Staff Saturday
By Lucia Starbuck
Some counties in Nevada are expected to begin vaccinating people in Tier 2 within a week.
Faculty and staff at K-12 schools in Washoe County are able to get their shot at the Reno-Sparks Livestock Events Center on Saturday. They must make arrangements with their employers.
Those in Tier 1 who still haven’t been vaccinated yet, can still receive one.
Quad-Counties will also start vaccinating educators and day care workers starting on Monday.
Clark County is also expected to start vaccinating adults over the age of 75 next week according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Renown Staff To Receive Second Shot Of COVID-19 Vaccine Friday
By Lucia Starbuck
Some health care workers at Renown will be getting their second COVID-19 vaccine on Friday. KRNV is reporting about 86% of the hospital’s staff has already received their first shot.
The second dose will ultimately provide about 95% protection from the virus.
Lucia Starbuck is a corps member for Report for America, an initiative of the GroundTruth Project.
Gov. Steve Sisolak To Deliver State Of The State Address Online
By The Associated Press
Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak will pre-record his second State of the State address and publish it online on Jan. 19 as a health precaution because of the coronavirus pandemic. The Democratic governor announced Tuesday that he would also release his proposed budget the day before his address. The speech will emphasize the governor's priorities before the state's legislative session begins in February. The state is facing a substantial deficit because of the pandemic. In November, Sisolak had told state agencies to prepare for 12% budget cuts in each of the next two fiscal years. A special session last summer had made $1 billion in cuts from the previous budget.
California Hospital Quickly Vaccinates 850 People After Freezer Fails
By The Associated Press
A hospital in Northern California quickly vaccinated 850 people after a freezer that was holding the Moderna COVID-19 vaccines failed, prompting officials to do an emergency distribution of the vaccines before they spoiled. An outage Monday left a refrigerator at a medical center in Mendocino County without power. Spokeswoman Cici Winiger told the Ukiah Daily Journal that by the time hospital officials realized the freezer had malfunctioned, they had 2.5 hours to distribute the vaccines. Hundreds of county residents were given the vaccines on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Get Caught Up:
January 6, 2021 | Regional Updates
- Quad-Counties To Vaccinate Educators And Day Care Workers Monday
- Washoe County Surpasses 500 Total COVID-19-Related Deaths
- December Deadliest Month During Pandemic In Washoe
- Nevada Has Administered Over 29,000 COVID-19 Vaccines
- More Than 25,000 COVID-19 Vaccines Administered In Nevada
- Health District Says Pace Of Vaccinations Going Well In Washoe
- Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe Elects New Chairperson, Begins Administering COVID-19 Vaccine
- Smiling With Hope Pizza In Reno To Close Temporarily
For continued updates on the novel coronavirus in Nevada, visit our related stories page.
