Novel Coronavirus In Nevada: Apr. 28-May 4, 2021

6:00 p.m. | May 4, 2021

Nevada’s COVID-19 Vaccination Rate Still Declining
By Lucia Starbuck

The COVID-19 vaccination rate in Nevada is still slowing down.

The state is vaccinating an average of fewer than 14,000 people per day, over the last two weeks. For comparison, Nevada was administering a 14-day rolling average of nearly 25,000 shots per day in mid-April.

The state has administered more than 1.9 million shots. Nearly 46% of Nevadans over 16 have received their first shot and roughly a third have completed vaccination. 

There are currently 388 Nevadans hospitalized for confirmed or suspected COVID-19. 

The state’s test positivity rate has remained steady at 5.7% for about a week.

Washoe County is reporting an average of 30 daily cases over the last two weeks.

State officials reported 476 new cases of COVID-19 Tuesday, which is higher than the average of 254 daily cases seen over the last two weeks. 

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.

Northeastern Nevada Regional Hospital In Elko Restricting Visitors Due To COVID-19
By Lucia Starbuck

Northeastern Nevada Regional Hospital in Elko is restricting hospital visitors after seeing an influx of patients with COVID-19.

According to an online announcement, visitors will not be permitted until May 17 at the earliest. There are a few exceptions. People undergoing outpatient surgery, minors, mothers in active labor and patients with special needs who require a full-time caregiver are permitted one visitor. Exceptions can also be made for patients receiving end-of-life care.

A week ago, there was only one person hospitalized for COVID-19 in Elko County, but as of Monday, there were nine COVID-19-positive patients, according to the state’s dashboard. There are about 50 hospital beds in Elko County, according to data from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. 

Walmart and Sam’s Club Pharmacies To Allow Walk-Up COVID-19 Vaccines
By Lucia Starbuck

All Walmart and Sam’s Club pharmacy locations are now allowing walk-up appointments for COVID-19 vaccines, as supply allows. That includes locations in Nevada. Walmart made the announcement Tuesday, and will continue allowing pre-scheduled appointments. 

To schedule an appointment at Walmart, click here, or for Sam’s Club, click here. 

7:16 p.m. | May 3, 2021

Nevada Updates Statewide Mask Mandate
By Lucia Starbuck

Nevada has updated the statewide mask mandate to align with the CDC’s most recent guidelines, which loosen restrictions for people who have completed their COVID-19 vaccination.

Lucia Starbuck is a corps members with Report for America, an initiative of the GroundTruth Project.

4:53 p.m. | May 3, 2021

Nevada Approves Washoe County’s Revised COVID-19 Reopening Plan
By Lucia Starbuck

The state of Nevada and Gov. Steve Sisolak have approved Washoe County’s latest revision to its reopening plan.

Under the plan, which is effective immediately, businesses are able to open 100% capacity as long as they can provide social distancing. Groups of up to 10 people can be seated at a restaurant. 

Events expecting more than 500 attendees can be approved with a safety plan. 

Self-serve buffets and adult entertainment are to remain closed until June 1. That’s when all social distancing requirements are expected to be dropped statewide. The state mask mandate will stay in place for the foreseeable future.

On Saturday, the state handed control of COVID-19 mitigation measures to most county jurisdictions, but not Washoe County. That’s because the plan Washoe County Commissioners submitted to the state COVID-19 task force late last week didn’t get approved. It wasn’t endorsed by the health district, school district or City of Reno.

Those required local entities have since approved the county’s current reopening plan.

4:28 p.m. | May 3, 2021

Washoe County Reopening Plan Heads To State For Approval, Again
By Lucia Starbuck

On Saturday, the state handed control of COVID-19 mitigation measures to most county jurisdictions, but not Washoe County. That’s because the plan Washoe County Commissioners submitted to the state COVID-19 task force late last week didn’t get approved. It wasn’t endorsed by the health district, school district or City of Reno.

The required local entities have now approved the county’s most recent proposal, which is now awaiting state approval.

Under the newest plan, businesses would be able to open 100% capacity as long as they can provide social distancing. 

Groups of up to 10 people could be seated at a restaurant. Events expecting more than 500 attendees could be approved with a safety plan. 

Self-serve buffets and adult entertainment would remain closed until June 1. That’s when all social distancing requirements are expected to be dropped statewide. The state mask mandate will stay in place for the foreseeable future.

Carson High School To Have In-Person Graduation In Spring
By Lucia Starbuck

Carson City School District announced Carson High School is planning on hosting an in-person graduation ceremony for their seniors in early June. 

Graduation will take place on the football field, masks are required and attendees are encouraged to sit with their families while social distancing from others. 

Pioneer High School, Carson Middle School and Eagle Valley Middle School will have drive-through graduation ceremonies. 

COVID-19 Outbreak At Truckee High School
By KUNR Staff

The Tahoe Truckee Unified School District is reporting more than 30 COVID-19 cases at Truckee High School as of Monday.

In a letter to families published by KTVN, officials said a majority of the cases were from off-campus activities. The district will close a school if 5% of the staff and student population test positive in a 14-day-period. That would equate to 39 cases.

There are currently 32 active COVID-19 cases at Truckee High School, according to the school district’s dashboard. 

School district officials told SFGate that roughly 150 high students were exposed to someone who had tested positive for COVID-19 and were put under quarantine last week.

4:25 p.m. | April 30, 2021

Nevada’s Test Positivity Creeping Closer To 5%
By Noah Glick

Beginning Saturday, the state of Nevada will be handing over COVID-19 restrictions to counties, with the exception of Washoe County.

That comes as Nevada health officials announced Friday that the state is seeing the lowest average number of new daily coronavirus cases since April 8.

Nevada is also creeping back to the target 5% test positivity rate, with the state currently sitting at 5.7%. The World Health Organization says a 5% test positivity rate is needed to stop community spread. In Washoe County, that number is more than 6%.

More than 315,000 Nevadans have contracted the coronavirus, and more than 5,400 have died.

6:13 p.m. | April 29, 2021

First COVID Case Of 81st Legislative Session Reported
By Paul Boger

Officials are reporting the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in the Nevada Legislature.

The Legislative Counsel Bureau reported a person who works in the building tested positive for the virus Wednesday, roughly two weeks after opening the building to the public.

The building will remain open. Visitors are required to take a rapid COVID test to enter the legislature.

5:00 p.m. | April 28, 2021

COVID-19 Vaccinations Per Day Are Declining In Nevada
By Lucia Starbuck

COVID-19 vaccination rates are slowing down in Nevada.

The latest data from the state’s dashboard shows the state administered an average of roughly 16,000 shots per day over the last two weeks. That’s significantly lower than the more than 24,000 shots administered daily in mid-April. 

Health officials say they’re unsure how the recent nationwide pause on the single-dose Johnson and Johnson vaccine might have affected demand. 

Nearly a third of Nevadans 16 and older have completed their vaccination and nearly 45% have received their first shot.*

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.  

*Editor’s note: A previous version of this story stated nearly a third of Nevadans 16 and older have received at least one COVID-19 vaccination. That is not correct; nearly a third of Nevadans 16 and older have completed their vaccination and nearly 45% have received their first shot.

WCHD and Reno Rodeo To Share Livestock Events Center
By Jayden Perez

The Reno Rodeo will share the Livestock Events Center’s parking lot alongside the Washoe County Health District’s vaccination site.

According to the Reno Gazette Journal, health officials will move the vaccination site to the west end of the Livestock Events Center during the Rodeo in mid-June.

The health officials made the decision this week after evaluating the costs of moving to another location. 

They also voiced concerns over the possible confusion that could occur if the vaccine site were to move.

Number of Nevadans Late To Receive Second Vaccine Dose Has Surpassed 100,000
By Jayden Perez

More than 122,000 Nevadans are late to receive their second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

According to the Las Vegas Review Journal, the state has started tracking people who are more than four days late getting their second dose of the vaccine.

Both shots are necessary for the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines to be most effective. 

So far, more than a million Nevadans have gotten at least one shot.

April 27, 2021 | Regional Updates

• Washoe County School District To Spend Up To $3 Million For Summer School
• Carson City School District To Keep Current School Schedule
• Most Libraries in Washoe County To Reopen May 3
• Reno, Mexican Consulate Hold Vaccination Event For Latino Community
• Nevada COVID-19 Task Force Rejects Washoe County’s Reopening Plan
• Washoe County Businesses May Soon Open At Full Capacity
• 67 Additional U.K. COVID Variant Cases In Washoe County

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