Novel Coronavirus In Nevada: Tuesday, April 6, 2021
7:13 p.m. | April 6, 2021
Nevada Continues To Report Fewer Than 200 Daily Cases Of COVID-19
By Lucia Starbuck
Nevada’s COVID-19 test-positivity rate is slowly starting to tick up.
The latest data from the state shows about 4.4% of all COVID tests are coming back positive. The metric is a key indicator of how quickly the virus is spreading through a community.
The increase comes after months of steady decline in Nevada.
Overall, the state continues to report fewer than 200 new daily cases.
In all, more than 305,000 Nevadans have contracted the virus and nearly 5,300 have died.
In Washoe County an average of 43 cases were reported Tuesday, as well as one additional COVID-19 death.
You can learn more about COVID-19 vaccinations in Nevada here, along with the state’s COVID-19 dashboard here, and Washoe County’s here.
FEMA Helps Launch Mobile COVID-19 Vaccination Clinics In Rural And Tribal Communities In Nevada
By Lucia Starbuck
The Federal Emergency Management Agency is using a mobile COVID-19 vaccination clinic to reach rural and tribal communities in Nevada.
The clinics will offer the one-shot, Janssen vaccine for people 18 and older on a first come, first served basis.
The clinic will next travel to the Washoe Tribe in Carson City, followed by Topaz Estates, Silver Springs, Gerlach, Lovelock, Winnemucca, Battle Mountain, and Carlin before ending in West Wendover May 1.
More information is available at NVCOVIDFighter.org.
Lucia Starbuck is a corps member for Report for America, an initiative of the GroundTruth Project.
California Plans To Lift Most Pandemic Restrictions June 15
By The Associated Press
California plans to lift most coronavirus restrictions on businesses and workplaces June 15. State officials said Tuesday that enough people should be vaccinated by then to allow for life to almost get back to a pre-pandemic normal. The state's Health and Human Services secretary says California's mask mandate will remain in effect. He says the nation's most populated state won't reopen more widely unless there's sufficient vaccine supply and hospitalization rates stay low. The announcement comes as states across the country have lifted health restrictions as more people get vaccinated. California had some of the nation's strictest pandemic rules, becoming the first to institute a statewide stay-at-home order last spring.
Novel Coronavirus In Nevada: Monday, April 5, 2021
6:21 p.m. | April 5, 2021
Washoe Co. Launches New COVID-19 Vaccine Scheduling Tool
By Michelle Billman
Washoe County has launched a new scheduling platform for residents 16 and older to sign up for the COVID-19 vaccine. This platform will only schedule appointments at the Reno-Sparks Livestock Events Center.
Health officials said in a statement Monday that the appointments are available starting the week of April 12. Residents 18 and older will be allowed to choose the brand of COVID-19 vaccine they want through the platform. Those who are 16 or 17 years old can only select the Pfizer vaccine because Moderna and Janssen are only available for those 18 years or older. Only a limited number of vaccine doses are available and the supply is subject to change.
Statewide, the average number of new daily cases over the past 14 days is just below 200 while an average of 3 new deaths per day has been recorded over the same time period. Nearly 21 percent of the state’s population aged 16 and older is now fully vaccinated for COVID-19.
Cortez Masto Touts Relief Law's Help For Health Insurance
By The Associated Press
U.S. Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada is encouraging people to shop on the state's health insurance exchange to find out if they can get cheaper coverage thanks to the new federal coronavirus relief law. The Democratic senator said Monday that the relief law increases subsidies for 60,000 Nevada residents already receiving them to help pay for their health insurance on the Silver State Health Insurance Exchange. She says the law also makes 40,000 others eligible for subsidies and anyone receiving unemployment benefits eligible for free monthly premiums and help paying copays and deductibles. Also Monday, Nevada began allowing anyone 16 and older to sign up for COVID-19 vaccines.
Novel Coronavirus In Nevada: Friday, April 2, 2021
5:40 p.m. | April 2, 2021
Nevada’s Test Positivity-Rate Stalls
By Paul Boger
Nevada reported an above-average number of new coronavirus cases and deaths Friday.
That's left the state's two-week test positivity rate unchanged at 4.2% for the better part of a week, possibly ending a months-long decline in the key COVID-19 metric.
Overall, the state recorded 342 new cases of the virus and four additional deaths. That brings the total number of confirmed cases to more than 304,000, statewide, while 5,260 people have died due to the virus.
The rate of vaccination continues to climb. As many as one in five Nevadans 16-and-older are now fully vaccinated, according to the latest statistics from the Department of Health and Human Services.
California To Allow Indoor Performances
By The Associated Press
California will, once again, allow indoor concerts, theater performances and other private gatherings starting April 15. The California Department of Public Health announced the changes as the rate of people testing positive for the virus nears a record low. To attend events, people will have to either be tested or show proof of full vaccination. And how many people can attend those events will depend on the level of restrictions in place within each county. The state has divided counties into four tiers based on how widespread the virus is in those places. California Health and Human Services officials say the new rules are, in part, a result of vaccinations.
Novel Coronavirus In Nevada: Thursday, April 1, 2021
5:09 p.m. | April 1, 2021
Sisolak Releases Recovery Plan For Federal Coronavirus Relief Funds
By Paul Boger
Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak has issued the first guidance on how the state should spend a large chunk of the state's federal coronavirus relief money.
Sisolak's proposed framework is dubbed the Every Nevadan Recovery Plan. It's meant to serve as a blueprint for how the state will spend about $2.9 billion of the state's share of money from the federal American Rescue Plan.
Essentially, the plan will use “prioritization bands” to determine where that money will go. They include increasing access to basic necessities and social programs for residents, strengthening community services, education and the economy, as well as improving quality of life issues.
Sisolak's office says the plan was developed with input from Democratic leaders in the legislature as well as state Treasurer Zach Conine.
Republican lawmakers, though, say the money should be used to provide tax relief to Nevadans.
Nevada’s COVID-19 Metrics Holding Steady
By Paul Boger
Health officials in Nevada say new cases of COVID-19 are leveling off.
The news comes despite higher-than-average numbers of new daily cases and deaths in recent days.
According to the Nevada COVID Response Dashboard, the state's two-week test positivity rate has remained steady at 4.2%. The metric is a key indicator of the virus’s spread and helps determine how many people around the state are testing positive for the coronavirus.
Health officials say the overall decline in new cases and hospitalizations is thanks largely to vaccination efforts. Nearly one-third of eligible residents have received at least one dose of the vaccine. More than 18% of the state's population 16-and-older are fully vaccinated.
Overall, more than 304,000 Nevadans have contracted the virus since the start of the pandemic and 5,256 people in the state have died.
Novel Coronavirus In Nevada: Wednesday, March 31, 2021
4:00 p.m. | March 31, 2021
One In Five Washoe Residents Fully Vaccinated
By Lucia Starbuck
Nearly one in three Nevadans eligible for a COVID-19 vaccination have gotten their first shot, with roughly 18% of the state’s entire population now completely vaccinated. That’s according to the latest information on the state’s online dashboard.
In Washoe County, one in five residents are now fully vaccinated.
Statistically, Nevada is averaging fewer than 200 daily cases of COVID-19 and three deaths per day. The totals are based on a two-week rolling average.
Washoe County is averaging 43 cases per day.
You can learn more about COVID-19 vaccinations in Nevada here, along with the state’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 COVID-19 Response Team Looking For COVID-19 Vaccinators
By Jayden Perez
Washoe County’s COVID-19 response team is looking for volunteers and temporary staff to assist with vaccination efforts.
The Washoe County Medical Reserve Corps program is specifically looking for people who can administer vaccines. They’re also looking for staff who can help with assisting vaccinators and with traffic flow among other duties.
If you’re interested in volunteering, you can sign up at the Medical Reserve Corps of Washoe County website.
Get Caught Up:
March 30, 2021 | Regional Updates
- Sisolak Extends Nevada Eviction Moratorium Until End Of May
- Nevada Unemployment Insurance Claimants To Be Required To Search For Work Again
- Full And Close-Contact Sports Can Resume In Nevada
- First Case Of UK Variant Reported In Quad-County Region
- Nevada Adds Jobs, Slowly
For continued updates on the novel coronavirus in Nevada, visit our related stories page.
