Coronavirus In Nevada: Live Blog

Coronavirus In Nevada Updates: Wednesday, March 18

10:17 p.m. PDT | March 18, 2020
By Michelle Billman

State Total Of COVID-19 Cases Hits 85

The Southern Nevada Health District is reporting a total of 69 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Clark County, as of Wednesday evening.

At the same time, the Washoe County Health District is confirming two new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of cases in Washoe County to 14.

The two new Washoe cases are: a man in his 30’s with recent travel Europe and a man in his 30’s with recent travel to Washington.

Both cases are self isolating and are in stable condition. The WCHD is investigating and working to identify close risk contacts to prevent community spread of the disease.

There is also a case in Carson City and a new case in Douglas County, bringing the state total to 85.

UNR Shuts Down All Non-Essential Operations, Closes To Public

The University of Nevada, Reno sent a statement Wednesday saying that all non-essential operations at the school would cease by 5 p.m. Wednesday.

There will be no access to the campus by the public; access will only be available to faculty, staff, and students handling critical functions who have their own keys or cards.

This also means that students living in residence halls had to leave immediately on Wednesday to return to their homes, unless they have extenuating circumstances.

All faculty will start delivering their courses online next week.

This closure includes operations at the fitness center, athletic facilities, vendors and any location where people socialize. UNR officials said the goal of these actions is to reduce the physical presence on campus.

The announcement came after Governor Steve Sisolak's announcement on Tuesday mandating the closure of all non-essential businesses across the state.

Washoe, Reno Law Enforcement Stepping Up Patrols

During a multi-agency press conference Wednesday, law enforcement officials for the Reno Police Department and the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office said that both agencies are increasing patrols to protect vulnerable residents and business properties that are shutting down their operations.

Sheriff Darin Balaam also said the county is experiencing an increase in 911 calls due to concerns about COVID-19.

The cities of Reno and Sparks, along with Washoe County, are all still grappling with what the definition of “non-essential businesses” entails and how many businesses are now affected by Governor Sisolak's mandate to shut down for 30 days.

At Wednesday's press conference, a representative from the Reno Police Department stated that Chief Jason Soto is working with state partners to come up with a plan to ensure additional test kits are available for the local community and first responders.

Washoe Co. Changes Business Operations

Washoe County has modified its business operations to help stop the spread of COVID-19. This webpage has details about all county services, everything from the Sheriff’s Office to juvenile justice to the registrar of voters.

Reno News And Review Suspends Publication

The Reno News & Review is suspending its operations after this week's publication. Sister papers in Sacramento and Chico are also halting their production.

In an article titled “Fare thee well” editor Brad Bynum explained that with local restaurants, coffee houses, nightclubs and bars either shuttered or operating with drastically reduced hours due to the novel coronavirus, business owners don't have enough funding for print advertising.

The alt-weekly has been publishing in Northern Nevada for 25 years and is best known for its coverage of visual art, the local food scene, music and theater.

All TMCC Physical Locations Are Closed

Truckee Meadows Community College has closed all of its physical locations. Classes and services will be delivered remotely starting March 23. There’s an FAQ page here.

Gov. Sisolak Waives Work Search Requirement for Unemployment Insurance Benefits

Nevada’s governor made the announcement on Facebook Live and provided this description for the video:

City Of Reno Provides More Details On Reno Business Closures
Press Release From The City Of Reno

Foreclosures And Evictions Suspended For Vast Majority Of Nevada Homeowners
Press Release From The Nevada State Treasurer

Sisolak Orders All Non-Essential Businesses Closed Statewide

10:12 p.m. PDT | March 17, 2020
By Paul Boger

Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak has ordered all non-essential businesses in the state to close by noon Wednesday, March 18.

In order to prevent the spread of COVID-19, all retail establishments, bars, dine-in restaurants, hotels and beauty services are barred from opening for the next 30 days.

The order also includes the state’s gaming industry, with all video-gaming and slot machines as well as casinos shut down before Wednesday.

The governor made the announcement during a press conference in Las Vegas, Tuesday evening.

When asked about the impact on the state's economy, Sisolak told reporters his decision was imperative to protect the public's health.

"This is affecting the lives of our citizens,” an exasperated Sisolak exclaimed. "People are dying. Every day that we are delayed here, I'm losing a dozen people on the back end that are going to die as a result of this."

Essential services, like first responders and hospitals, will remain available. Businesses like urgent care facilities, pharmacies, airports, banks and mail service will also remain open.

From The Governor’s Remarks

Get Caught Up

• March 17 | Coronavirus In Nevada Updates: Tuesday, March 17
• March 17 | School Closures Can Pose Challenges For Medical Providers
• March 17 | COVID-19 Online Learning Solutions Present Challenges For Students With Autism, ADHD

Coronavirus In Nevada Updates: Tuesday, March 17

10:12 p.m. PDT | March 17, 2020
By Noah Glick

Federal Funds For Nevada COVID-19 Efforts

Nevada is getting some help from the federal government to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

Senators Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen released a statement on Tuesday announcing that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has awarded $6.5 million to Nevada.

The senators said they will “continue working in the Senate and with Governor Steve Sisolak to provide Nevadans with much needed resources to protect public health, safety, and well-being.”

The funds come from a 2020 federal appropriations act that is supplying $560 million in initial funding to states, localities and territories to respond to the crisis.

Nevada Business Relief

Businesses in Nevada may soon be getting some relief through low-interest loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration.

The SBA has administratively declared the entire state of Nevada an economic disaster zone, meaning any companies impacted by COVID-19 are eligible. These economic disaster loans offer up to $2 million per business.

Loans can be used to pay off debts, pay employees, or pay other bills that can’t be made due to impacts from the coronavirus.

To apply, visit www.sba.gov/disaster.

WCSD Offers Update On Distance Learning

The Washoe County School District issued a statement saying it’s in the final stages of developing distance learning plans for when students are expected back from spring break on March 30. Governor Sisolak has ordered all K-12 schools to be closed through April 6.

“Even though buildings are closed, we want the community to be reassured that we are developing thorough plans for learning and instruction, to continue during this difficult and unprecedented time,” Interim Superintendent Kristen McNeill said in a statement.

The district has not finalized any plans at this point.

Reno Shuts Down Non-essential Government Services

The city of Reno is officially limiting staff hours and will be responding only to essential functions, according to an announcement Tuesday from the city.

The statement said the following developments will include:

• All Reno City Hall floors above 2, with the exception of privately leased space on 10 and 14, are closed to the public.
• The City Clerk and Community Development desks are closed; drop-offs are being provided for people who need to leave things behind.
• While the public may no longer file a report in person at Reno Police Department headquarters, they are encouraged to visit renopd.com or call 775-334-2175 to file non-emergency reports. Outward-facing public safety functions and related services such as police patrols and fire stations are otherwise unaffected.
• Sewer operations, traffic engineering, road/street repairs and closures conducted by Public Works will continue as usual.

All City of Reno employees who are able to work from home or remotely have been instructed to do so. For more information, you can visit the city’s website.

3:16 p.m. PDT | March 17, 2020
By Noah Glick

New COVID-19 Cases In Washoe County

The Washoe County Health District confirmed three new presumptive positive cases of COVID-19 in the county on Tuesday morning. Two are men in their 60’s and one is a woman in her 30’s. All of them have either recently traveled to a known hotspot or came into contact with someone who had the virus.

That brings the total number of cases to 12 in Washoe County and 55 in the state.

The Washoe County Health District said all three people are self isolating and are in stable condition. The agency said it’s working to identify any potential contacts to prevent the spread of the disease.

Editor's Note: An earlier version of this information stated 48 total cases in the state. That number has been updated to reflect the latest total of 55. Updated at 3:30 p.m.

Washoe County Declares Emergency

The Washoe County Commission has issued an emergency declaration for the county to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. The declaration will open additional resources for the county to prevent the spread.

Commission Chair Bob Lucey said in a statement that the county must be ready to take strong action to safeguard the community.

Officials are urging residents to not panic, but to be prepared. They also suggest reaching out to vulnerable community members who may need extra help.

Census Update

The U.S. Census Bureau is updating its operations for this year’s census, to deal with the spread of COVID-19.

One big update is how the bureau plans to count college students. New guidelines state that even if students are forced out of university housing due to COVID-19, they will still be counted as part of the university community.

The agency said it’s also looking at additional ways to make sure people in nursing homes, prisons and other institutions are counted accurately and safely.

The deadline to deliver the final results is July 31 of this year, but the bureau said that deadline might get pushed back to ensure an accurate count.

Mining Update

Environmentalists in Nevada are calling on the state’s environmental division to postpone all mining permits, while the public deals with impacts from COVID-19.

The Center for Biological Diversity sent a letter Tuesday to the director of the Nevada Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, urging the agency to suspend all mining permits and public comment periods until the pandemic is under control.

Nevada State Director Patrick Donnelly said in the letter, “it is impossible to credibly say that the public will have an opportunity for involvement in these permitting processes while there is a public health emergency ongoing.”

The Nevada Department of Conservation and Natural Resources did not immediately respond for comment.

Douglas County Closures

Douglas County is also announcing several closures.

The Douglas County Community and Senior Center in Gardnerville, Kahle Community Center at Lake Tahoe, the Tahoe Douglas Senior Center and the Topaz Ranch Estates Community Center will be experiencing reduced services. All meetings, activities and functions in the county’s senior centers and community parks are suspended.

County parks will remain open, but scheduled activities are canceled.

Douglas Area Rural Transit (DART) services will continue, but only for scheduled appointments.

Additionally, Meals on Wheels will continue as usual, with modifications for safety in place. Seniors wishing to receive this service should contact Douglas County Senior Center at 775-782-5500 ext. 1.

Nevada Health Exchange Re-opens

Nevadans dealing with the COVID-19 outbreak without health insurance are getting some relief.

The state’s health insurance exchange, known as Nevada Health Link, is opening a special enrollment period for people who missed the Open Enrollment Period to sign up for health insurance.

This special enrollment period runs from March 17 through April 15.

Nevada Health Link said the move is in response to Governor Steve Sisolak’s Emergency Declaration, and officials said that health insurance is not required to be tested for COVID-19.

Anyone interested in seeking coverage should contact the Customer Assistance Call Center at 1-800-547-2927; TTY 771.

School Closures Can Pose Challenges For Medical Providers

11:58 a.m. PDT | March 17, 2020
By Anh Gray

Novel coronavirus cases continue to increase nationwide, and also in Nevada. Medical providers, in particular, already face challenges during pandemics. Recent school closures can be an added burden for working families.

Medical providers are on the frontlines of the coronavirus pandemic. Dr. Tony Slonim is the president and CEO of Renown Health. He said since many health care workers have families, school closures can also pose a challenge.

“With schools closing, that puts an important weight on families who are health care workers and relying on their children [to be] cared for in school,” Slonim said. “We also have a childcare center on campus, and for the moment, that's open, so that people can still come to work and have their children well cared for in that environment.”

As the pandemic is unfolding, Slonim said it could take a toll on the medical community.

“We don't know how things may change as the virus continues to evolve,” Slonim explained. “As health care workers have to go offline, either because of their own family's obligations, whether it's childcare or care of another relative, or go offline because they themselves need to be quarantined or are sick, that does impact the abilities of our health care systems.”

To protect medical staff at Renown, Slonim said personal protective equipment like gloves, masks and respirators have been provided. He also recommends that health workers stay home when sick to avoid spreading the illness.

COVID-19 Online Learning Solutions Present Challenges For Students With Autism, ADHD

9:22 a.m. PDT | March 17, 2020
By Bree Zender

In response to the spread of coronavirus, schools across the nation, including the University of Nevada, Reno, are transitioning to online learning for a period of time. This adjustment can be a challenge for some students; particularly those with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

Cady Stanton has coached people with autism or ADHD for the past 15 years and has studied the role it plays in academic outcomes.

Listen to this interview to learn more.

Get Caught Up

• March 16 | Coronavirus In Nevada Updates: Monday, March 16
• March 16 | How Renown Is Prepping For Coronavirus
• March 16 | Nev. Coronavirus Test Lab Needs More Supplies To Evaluate Kits

Coronavirus In Nevada Updates: Monday, March 16

8:00 p.m. PDT | March 16, 2020
By Stephanie Serrano

Nevada Reports A COVID-19 Death Monday

Nevada reported its first COVID-19-related death on Monday. Health officials in the Las Vegas area said a man in his sixties, who had been hospitalized with the coronavirus, has died. The Southern Nevada Health District said the man had underlying health conditions. Nevada has identified at least 45 COVID-19 cases statewide so far.

A total of nine are in Washoe County and one in Carson City.

City Of Reno Orders Non-Essential Businesses To Close By March 20

Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve has announced a mandatory closure on all non-essential businesses, including gyms, restaurants and bars. City officials are advising businesses to wind down starting Tuesday at 10 a.m., with the goal to close by Friday, March 20. They will remain closed through April 5.

Gaming will continue as long as casino properties comply with new regulations, like cleaning the machines every two hours, minimizing table games to three chairs and enforcing new CDC restrictions. Other businesses within the casino properties may close.

According to the mayor, this does not impact takeout, delivery or pickup options for restaurants. Gas stations, grocery stores, doctors’ offices and pharmacies will remain open.

Currently, the City of Sparks has not called for any mandatory non-essential business closures.

Schieve is working with the Reno Housing Authority and asking landlords to suspend any future evictions. The mayor is also lifting delivery restrictions in order to expedite supplies and goods to the city.

During Monday’s press conference, Schieve made erroneous comments about the closures that led to confusion among community members and the city ultimately released a clarifying statement.

Agriculture Dept. Announces Meal Access Plan For K-12 Students

After Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak announced the temporary closure of all K-12 schools statewide through April 6, the Nevada Department of Agriculture (NDA) is implementing a two-tier system to provide meal access for students who receive free and reduced lunch.

The meals will be provided at specific county schools in a grab-and-go style to minimize potential contamination and avoid delays. NDA officials are urging all meal sites to practice social distancing by keeping people six feet apart if lines begin to form.

If the meal sites were to be shut down, the second tier implements USDA foods through the Emergency Food Assistance program, which will supply household foods instead of prepared meals.

Community members can check the Nevada Department of Agriculture’s Facebook page for meal locations and meal pickup times.

Southern Nevada Working With FEMA To Get More COVID-19 Tests

After Nevada announced the death of a man in his sixties who was fighting underlying health conditions and the coronavirus, the Southern Nevada Health District announced they are working with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to secure more testing resources.

Southern Nevada health officials are working to provide drive-thru swab pods to test for the virus. If successful, this would allow them to test 2,000 to 4,000 people a week.

Currently, they are testing about 60 people a day and are running low on kits.

The CDC is directing Southern Nevada not to send their presumptive positive cases to the agency. Instead, the CDC has told that region to consider those cases to be confirmed COVID-19 cases.

Lyon County Declares State Of Emergency

The Board of County Commissioners has declared a state of emergency for Lyon County to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The board is directing several events to be rescheduled and limiting public meetings to 30 people or less. A number of community centers are also temporarily closed.

Senior centers will be closed, but senior citizens will have access to meals through Meals on Wheels, or from a drive-up meal pickup site through April 6.

UNR Postpones Presidential Search But Says Commencement Won’t Be Canceled

As coronavirus developments continue in the state, the University of Nevada, Reno’s search for a new president has been delayed by the Nevada System of Higher Education.

The university campus is continuing to use alternate operations and remains open. Students will begin online courses on March 23 and canceling spring commencement is not under consideration, although options for an online ceremony that could be live-streamed to the public and graduates may be an option.

Students living in the resident halls have been asked to relocate off campus, but university officials said they are working with students whose only option is to live on campus.

How Renown Is Prepping For Coronavirus

6:13 p.m. PDT | March 16, 2020
By Anh Gray

The Southern Nevada Health District announced the first novel coronavirus-related death in the state on Monday. Officials said the individual was a man in his sixties with underlying medical conditions and that he was hospitalized.

As of Monday afternoon, there are 45 cases of COVID-19 statewide.

As more hospitals across the nation are treating patients with the illness, KUNR’s Anh Gray spoke with Dr. Tony Slonim, the president and CEO of Renown Health, to learn how the hospital is prepping for possible cases.

Gray: The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the concerns over medical resources available to communities. What insights can you share about the resources at Renown? Are there concerns about medical staffing or resources, such as hospital beds, medical supplies and equipment?

Slonim: So coronavirus and the family of coronaviruses [have] been around for a long time. They're the kind of virus that causes a respiratory droplet transmitted disease and the way that you prevent the spread of those diseases... you put people in special rooms and you wear protective equipment. We have a number of those rooms available at Renown Health to make sure that if a person were to be hospitalized with COVID, that they would be put in the isolation room, and the staff that were caring for them would be using appropriate isolation and personal protective equipment.

We drill for this on a routine basis. So we have upwards of 50 or so of these rooms available in the community and they handle a variety of respiratory conditions that require isolation, not just COVID-19. So building that infrastructure is something that comes along with the part and parcel of being prepared for these kinds of community-based intrusions or problems.

Gray: We have not had patients with COVID-19 hospitalized [at Renown Health] yet. What protocols have been put in place at Renown, should that situation change?

Slonim: At this point, we have no hospitalized patients with COVID-19. The staff have masks and personal protective equipment of a variety of sorts so that they can protect themselves, their families, and other patients that they may see as they move forward.

Right now, we think that we're doing just fine as it relates to equipment. That's our latest information. As the disease takes further hold though, we'll have to continually reassess. For example, if providers start to become ill with the virus, that will take them offline because of the potential that they'll spread it to other providers, or even patients. So you ultimately have to be planning in the long-term for additional, not only structural things like equipment, beds and hospital rooms, but of medical providers, nursing providers and even laboratory and respiratory providers, as this continues to evolve.

Gray: What about testing? People are concerned about the availability of testing. Public health authorities base testing criteria on several factors, while also considering the resources available. How can clinicians adequately treat people, unless more tests are done?

Slonim: Right now testing is in limited supply and based upon criteria, which puts those tests to the best use, meaning the people that are the most vulnerable. The department of health has jurisdiction over pandemics, so they were taking the lead from the CDC and from the health district, as it relates to testing criteria and availability of testing. The idea is the more people that you screen who you know factually have the virus, whether or not they're symptomatic, you can either quarantine them or cohort them in a way that prevents the transmission to other people who may be well. So locking that down to some extent is important. And because you can have the virus for a couple of days before you become symptomatic, testing is a pivotal piece of work. I know that lots of people are putting their heads to thinking about how we can advance testing for our community.

Gray: Many public health officials are urging people to social distance, which they say, would help slow the spread by flattening the curve. In other words, to lessen the spike of cases, which could inundate the health care system. What are your thoughts about that?

Slonim: I think the flattening of the curve revolves around two things: One, if people are sick, stay home so you're not spreading. And two, we need some hard facts in our community and that's where I think that the incremental testing will come in. How are we identifying a greater availability to test more of the community, who may not even know that they're transmitting the virus, because they haven't been tested. The signs and the symptoms are so subtle that you may simply overlook them and not know that you should be staying home. People want to do the right thing. It's a matter of helping them to understand what the right thing is and how to manage that.

Nev. Coronavirus Test Lab Needs More Supplies To Evaluate Kits

4:32 p.m. PDT | March 16, 2020
By Bree Zender

The Nevada State Public Health Laboratory, which processes coronavirus testing, currently has a limited supply of materials left to analyze the results.

Dr. Mark Pandori, who runs the lab, said he received testing kits from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About 5,000 testing kits are left, but he said that his lab, as well as many others across the country, are running into shortages of the materials needed to run the results.

“We have the capacity to test at least through the week, at this rate, and we are working on contingency plans to carry that even further,” Pandori said.

Pandori said the lab is testing around 100 coronavirus kits a day. He said the lab is in “close conversation” with the Federal Food and Drug Administration to come up with other processing options by Tuesday.

Get Caught Up

• March 16 | Coronavirus In Nevada Updates: Monday, March 16
• March 15 | Five Additional Positive COVID-19 Cases Confirmed In Washoe County
• March 15 | Coronavirus In Nevada Updates: Sunday, March 15

Coronavirus In Nevada Updates: Monday, March 16

9:06 a.m. PDT | March 16, 2020
By Stephanie Serrano

Nev. Gov. Gives Several Statewide Updates On COVID-19:

Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak was flushed with emotion during the delivery of a second press conference Sunday afternoon while announcing several COVID-19 statewide updates, including the closure of schools and state offices.

The second press conference came hours after the governor announced the temporary closure of all K-12 Nevada schools across 17 districts. Sisolak ensured that all school employees would continue to get paid and students receiving free and reduced lunch would continue to have access to food.

The governor also issued an emergency resolution to expand the authorization of paid administrative leave for state employees and he directed leadership to close state offices as soon as possible. He also issued a hiring freeze to encourage state agencies to limit their spending to emergency purchases.

For other services like welfare, unemployment and the DMV, he is asking leadership to transition to online and phone assistance.

Sisolak said Nevada has a shortage of COVID-19 testing kits and does not have an adequate timeline of when the state would receive more.

In support of social-distancing, Sisolak is asking local governments to limit public gatherings to 50 or less people. He also asked those who are elderly to stay home and for faith leaders to postpone congregations.

The governor is advising gaming properties that have not closed their doors to comply with new regulations, keeping no more than three chairs per table game and cleaning gaming machines every two hours. Buffet-goers must be served by employees and not by themselves.

City Of Sparks Declares State Of Emergency:

The City of Sparks declared a state of emergency over the weekend to ensure faster delivery of supplies and resources.

In response to the statewide closure of K-12 schools through April 6, the City of Sparks is canceling all City of Sparks Parks and Recreation child care during spring break and before and after school programs. In addition, all Sparks community centers are closed through at least April 6.

Truckee Meadows Boys And Girls Club Closure:

Following new CDC regulations directing public gatherings to a minimum of 50 people or less, the Boys and Girls Club of Truckee Meadows is closing all facilities until March 20.

Five Additional Positive COVID-19 Cases Confirmed In Washoe County Total Cases In Washoe County Is Nine

5:04 p.m. PDT | March 15, 2020
Press Release By Washoe County Health District
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Coronavirus In Nevada Updates: Sunday, March 15

4:34 p.m. PDT | March 15, 2020
By KUNR Staff

Nev. Gov. Sisolak Closing All K-12 Schools Statewide:

All K-12 Nevada schools, including public, private and charter schools, are temporarily shutting down through April 6 in order to battle the spread of COVID-19. Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak announced the closure of all 17 districts across the state Sunday.

Sisolak also said the Nevada Department of Education will work with specific districts to create food security plans for low-income students.

Sisolak said this was a difficult and high impact decision in support of social distancing because it will place a childcare burden on working parents. He expressed awareness that these closures will create hardships for Nevada families.

In the Clark County School District, which is the fifth largest in the nation, students were expected to be on spring break from April 3-10. In the second most populous district, Washoe County, students began their two-week break Friday.

Calif. Gov. Newsom Announces Significant Social Distancing Measures:

California Governor Gavin Newsom is calling for the closure of all bars and wineries, along with the home isolation of everyone 65 and older.

The Sacramento Bee is reporting that Newsom issued the sweeping restrictions on Sunday as a form of "deep social distancing" in order to be pragmatic in the state's response to the coronavirus pandemic.

The announcement is aimed at keeping people away from each other, but it did not go so far as to close restaurants. Newsom said that restaurants can operate at reduced capacity and utilize home deliveries and curbside service.

Fourth Coronavirus Case Identified In Washoe Co. On Saturday, March 14:

The Washoe County Health District has identified a fourth case of COVID-19 in the county.

According to health officials this fourth person is a presumptive positive case and awaits CDC confirmation. This new case in Washoe is a man in his twenties with no travel history outside of the area. And he’s not linked to the previous three identified COVID-19 cases in the county.

In a press conference Saturday, County Health Officer Kevin Dick said this new case is a community transmission, which could mean there’s a likelihood of other unidentified cases.

Health officials are advising people to take precautions like social distancing and frequent hand washing. Authorities are also advising the public against hoarding food and supplies, suggesting instead to purchase a few extra items when making store visits. The health district is also supporting community decisions to cancel or postpone group events.

Many Tahoe Ski Resorts Are Closing Due To Coronavirus:

Vail Resorts and Alterra Mountain Company announced over the weekend that they are shuttering nearly 50 popular resorts. The Tahoe Daily Tribune is reporting that Vail will close its properties for seven days, starting Sunday, March 15, and then reevaluate the situation. Alterra’s closure will begin the same day but will be indefinite.

These closures impact Heavenly and Kirkwood on Tahoe’s South Shore, along with Northstar California and Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows up north.

Mount Rose ski resort has also announced that it will close for the rest of the season due to public health concerns.

Washoe Co. Libraries Are Closed:

All Washoe County libraries are closed to reduce the spread of COVID-19, the Washoe County library director said in a statement.

Get Caught Up

• March 13 | Coronavirus In Nevada Updates: Friday, March 13
• March 13 | Who Can Get A COVID-19 Test In Washoe County?
• March 13 | Renown Sets Up Alternate Care Site To Evaluate Respiratory Illness

Coronavirus In Nevada Updates: Friday, March 13

9:52 p.m. PDT | March 13, 2020
By KUNR Staff

Nevada Reports New Presumptive Positive Cases On March 13:

One person in Washoe County, along with eight more people in Clark County, have been diagnosed with COVID-19, according to the Southern Nevada and Washoe County Health Districts.

Officials said the patients range from their twenties through their sixties.

In Washoe County, the patient was identified as a woman in her twenties who recently traveled to Germany and France.

The Washoe County woman, and most of the Clark patients, are self-isolated at home. One man in his sixties is hospitalized and is in serious condition.

The Southern Nevada Health District did not release the status of two other men. Southern Nevada officials did not provide details on where most of the people may have contracted the virus from.

This brings the total number of confirmed cases in Nevada up to 20. Most of the tests are still waiting on confirmation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

City Of Reno Declares State Of Emergency:

The City of Reno has declared a state of emergency. The Nevada Independent is reporting that with the declaration, the city will now have the ability to redirect funds for emergency use, create mutual aid agreements, ban large gatherings and establish a curfew. At this point, city leaders are still deciding how they may utilize the declaration.

Mountain West Cancels Spring Sports Competitions:

Statement from the Mountain West on March 12:

TMCC Moving To Online Instruction:

Truckee Meadows Community College is moving to alternate operations in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. TMCC will have online instruction only, starting March 30. Classes will be delivered remotely, but all TMCC locations will remain open.

WCSD Postpones Athletics and Extracurriculars:

The Washoe County School District has announced that all school, district and non-district sponsored athletics are suspended, effective Monday, along with other extra-curricular activities, assemblies, and practices. All district-sponsored travel is also suspended.

In a statement released Friday, district officials said that it's important to note that there are no planned school closures at this time and that their goal is to keep schools open so that teaching and learning can continue. The district is heading into its two-week spring break, which runs from March 16-27.

Washoe Co. Suspends Non-Essential Meetings, Events:

Washoe County officials have decided to suspend all non-essential government events and business meetings. They released a statement on Friday saying their goal is “to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19 and to support the Washoe County Health District’s efforts to decrease the opportunity for disease transmission.”

This includes the Board of Commissioners meeting that was supposed to be on Tuesday, March 17. The statement also noted: “Washoe County leadership and staff are working to create alternative public meeting options for future meetings, and more information and updates will be forthcoming.”

Neighboring Placer Co. Closes Public Schools for Three Weeks:

The Placer Co. Office of Education released a statement on March 13, explaining that district administrators have decided to close all public schools and state preschools in Placer County for the next three weeks. The statement noted that “schools will be contacting families promptly about vital services and resources available to them throughout the closure including distance learning options and meals.”

The office is also recommending that families practice social distancing and protect vulnerable people, including senior citizens. “While children have not been shown to be a high-risk group for serious illness from COVID-19, they are still able to transmit the virus to populations who are most vulnerable to serious illness, such as older adults and those with compromised immune systems. Be mindful in childcare decisions to avoid exposing vulnerable persons, such as grandparents, to children.”

Officials also urged families not to gather in places like shopping malls, movie theaters or community centers while schools are closed.

Who Can Get A COVID-19 Test In Washoe County?

6:47 p.m. PDT | March 13, 2020
By Bree Zender

Some people who have flu-like symptoms may not be sure if they should get tested for COVID-19. The Washoe County Health District has a set of criteria for who should be tested. The criteria the district sets is based on recommendations from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Kevin Dick with the health district said testing criteria is based on a variety of factors, which may include the symptoms an individual is exhibiting, recent travel, or whether someone has been exposed to another person who has a confirmed case of COVID-19.

Read more from this update.

Renown Sets Up Alternate Care Site To Evaluate Respiratory Illness

3:06 p.m. PDT | March 13, 2020
By Anh Gray

Credit Anh Gray / KUNR

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KUNR

Governor Steve Sisolak declared a state or emergency to deal with the spread of coronavirus in Nevada on Thursday night. Health officials have identified 11 cases of COVID-19 in the state.

As the coronavirus pandemic continues to spread around the country, Renown Health in downtown Reno recently set up a deployable medical facility. Providers can screen and evaluate patients with symptoms of respiratory illness in a tented area that serves as an extension of the emergency room.

Read more about this alternate care site.

Get Caught Up

• March 12 | Coronavirus In Nevada Updates: Thursday, March 12
• March 12 | Update: Clark County Case Numbers
• March 12 | Coronavirus In Northern Nevada Updates

Coronavirus In Nevada Updates: Thursday, March 12

10:02 p.m. PDT | March 12, 2020
By KUNR Staff

Emergency Declaration:

Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak has declared a state of emergency in response to the growing concerns over the coronavirus. Sisolak made the announcement on Thursday evening in Las Vegas, only hours after health officials confirmed the eleventh case of the disease in Nevada.

Speaking at a press conference, Sisolak said the declaration is meant to help ease access to state and federal funding, and to help prevent the spread of the respiratory illness.

“I want to stress that declaring a state of emergency, while certainly a mark of the seriousness with which we are taking this effort, is not a reason to panic. This declaration is the first step to opening up access to our state's emergency resources," said Sisolak.

In addition to increased funding, the declaration activates the state's emergency operation center, which will centralize the response to the virus. The move also loosens regulations for government agencies to purchase food and other supplies.

UNR Goes Online:

The University of Nevada, Reno said students will not return to class after spring break. They will instead transition to online instruction, beginning March 23, due to COVID-19 concerns. The university made the announcement to faculty, staff and students in an email late Thursday afternoon.

While students may not be returning this semester, school officials said the university will remain open. According to the notice, the decision is part of a concerted effort to greatly reduce the collection of people on campus, in order to diminish the spread of the coronavirus.

As of Thursday, March 12, there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 on campus.

Carson Corona:

Health officials in Carson City said a 70-year-old woman is the third person in Northern Nevada to test presumptively positive for the coronavirus, bringing the state's total number of cases to 11.

According to Carson City health officials, the woman became sick after returning from a trip to San Jose earlier this month. She is currently self-isolating with her husband, both of who are being monitored daily.

Speaking at a press conference, Nicki Aaker, director of the Carson City Department of Health and Human Services, told reporters the district is not planning to take further action, like closing schools, at this time due to the circumstances of the infection.

"This is only one case and it is travel related. It's not spread in our community. Of course, at this time, we're not planning on advising [school closings], but we will continue to monitor the situation because the situation [can] change on a momentary basis."

In addition to the state's capital city, the Carson City Health District also provides services to Lyon, Douglas and Storey counties. Officials are continuing to ask residents to be mindful of their health and to take steps to prevent further infections.

More Southern Nevada Cases:

Officials from the Southern Nevada Health District said they have diagnosed three new presumptive positive cases in Clark County. No further details were announced.

This brings the total number of confirmed and presumptive cases in Nevada to eleven, with eight in Clark County.

Mountain West Sports Suspended:

The NCAA Mountain West Conference has suspended all spring sports indefinitely. This includes Nevada and UNLV teams. Conference officials said this is a move of caution to avoid possible spread of the coronavirus.

Teams that have qualified for the NCAA basketball tournament may still participate under the directions of their institution. The NCAA will have the final call on whether the tournament will go on or not.

NCAA officials have said the teams are set to play, but no fans will be allowed into the arenas.

Update: Clark County Case Numbers For March 12, 2020

11:24 a.m. PDT | March 12, 2020
Press Release By Southern Nevada Health District
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Coronavirus In Northern Nevada Updates: Thursday, March 12

11:19 a.m. PDT | March 12, 2020
Updates From The University Of Nevada, Reno

UNR Preparation:

UNR/UNLV Games:

Press Release By The Nevada Attorney General

Scam Warning:

Press Release By Renown Hospital

Renown Screening Tent

Get Caught Up

• March 11 | Southern Nevada Health District Announces Three New Positive Cases Of COVID-19
• March 10 | Nevada Outlines Conditions For Safe And Secure Return Of Resident Cruise Ship Passengers
• March 10 | Coronavirus In Nevada Updates

Southern Nevada Health District Announces Three New Positive Cases Of COVID-19 A Total Of Five Presumptive Positive Cases Reported In Clark County

1:52 p.m. PDT | March 11, 2020
Press Release By Southern Nevada Health District
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Nevada Outlines Conditions For Safe And Secure Return Of Resident Cruise Ship Passengers All Passengers Returning To Nevada Will Be Asymptomatic

9:13 p.m. PDT | March 10, 2020
By Michelle Billman

The CDC has confirmed that the first presumptive positive case of the coronavirus in Washoe County is positive. This is a man in his fifties who returned from a Grand Princess cruise ship in late February.

Washoe County health officials made the announcement Tuesday. They are still waiting for confirmation from the CDC regarding the second presumptive positive case in the county.

There are no additional presumptive positive cases at this point in Washoe.

Officials have also been concerned about a Grand Princess cruise ship that's in the San Francisco Bay area. They said that 49 passengers will be returning to Nevada and will be isolated in quarantine for 14 days after they arrive in the state. All of these passengers are asymptomatic at this time. All of them must agree to be tested for COVID-19 before they return to the state and they must agree to the self-isolation period.

There are more details on this situation in the press release below:

Press Release By Department of Health and Human Services
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE TO MEDIA - Timestamp: 1:47 p.m. PST | March 10, 2020

Coronavirus In Nevada Updates: Tuesday, March 10

9:27 a.m. PDT | March 10, 2020
By Anh Gray

Four people in Nevada have tested presumptively positive for COVID-19. Two of those cases are in Washoe County, and deemed by health officials to be travel-related cases.

Over the weekend, county health authorities recommended that the community curb travel plans in order to limit the spread of the virus.

Additionally, there are 15 residents from Carson City, Douglas and Lyon County returning from the Grand Princess cruise ship, which eventually docked in Oakland, California after several days of delay due to cases of COVID-19 aboard. Carson City Health and Human Services is following guidelines from the CDC to monitor those individuals for a 14-day-period. Overall, the state is working to repatriate 49 Nevadans from the cruise ship today (Tuesday).

In addition, there have been other community responses related to concerns about the coronavirus:

Yesterday (Monday), Renown Health announced a new policy to restrict visitors. The hospital will make some exceptions for extenuating circumstances, such as severe trauma. No visitors under the age of 12 will be permitted. Also, all volunteer operations at the hospital have been suspended.

The Washoe County School District has announced that it has canceled all out-of-state and all international district-sponsored travel for students and staff. This includes conferences and activities related to athletics and academics. Currently, in-state events will continue as scheduled. You can find more updates from the WCSD here.

The Reno Gazette-Journal is reporting that Patagonia closed all of its operations in Reno yesterday in response to an employee’s claim of being exposed to the coronavirus. The Washoe County Health District investigated the employee’s claim and later determined that the claim was “fabricated.”

Correction to Carson City Health and Human Services Press Release on March 9, 2020

8:25 p.m. PDT | March 9, 2020
Press Release By Department of Health and Human Services
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE TO MEDIA - Timestamp: 5:53 p.m. PST | March 9, 2020

Editor’s Note: KUNR posted the original press release provided by Carson City Health and Human Services on Monday, March 9 regarding the Nevada passengers on the Grand Princess cruise ship. Since a correction was made to the press release, KUNR has removed it from our website and posted the updated version to ensure accurate information is shared.

Get Caught Up

• March 8 | Washoe County Has Second Presumptive Positive Case Of COVID-19
• March 7 | Washoe County Debuts ‘Drive-Thru’ COVID-19 Testing For People With Symptoms
• March 7 | Nevada Cruise Ship Passengers Being Evaluated

Washoe County Has Second Presumptive Positive Case Of COVID-19 Health District Is Identifying Close Contacts, Urges Continued Caution To Residents

11:02 a.m. PDT | March 8, 2020
Press Release By Washoe County Health District
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Washoe County Debuts ‘Drive-Thru’ COVID-19 Testing For People With Symptoms

2:02 p.m. PST | March 7, 2020
By Bree Zender

Credit Bree Zender / KUNR Public Radio

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KUNR Public Radio

Washoe County is streamlining its free coronavirus testing plan as they begin to request federal funding for more testing supplies.

At a Saturday press conference, Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak said he is working with Nevada’s federal representatives and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to acquire funding.

On Friday, the County Health District began asking those who meet the testing criteria to do a ‘drive-thru’ test, located outside of their tuberculosis testing facility. Health officials said testing is not open to the general public. District officials said this drive-thru process reduces the risk of transmission, because it’s an open-air test done outdoors. People with suspected COVID-19 will stay in their cars with the window rolled down, as nurses administer the swab test.  

“It’s a two-step process. So one is of the throat,” said Charlene Albee, director of Washoe County's Environmental Health Services. “And the other one is a swab that goes up one side of the nostrils, up into the sinuses, and then pulls out. Then goes into the other side.”

Credit Bree Zender / KUNR Public Radio

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KUNR Public Radio

For the time being, tests will be administered from 9:00 a.m. through 1:00 p.m. At this point, Albee estimates they could administer six tests an hour. Then, all the day’s swabs are sent to the public health laboratory on the University of Nevada, Reno campus. The results should come out by 5:30 p.m. that day. 

On Friday, President Donald Trump signed an $8 billion emergency preparedness bill, which will send money to local, state and tribal agencies, to respond to possible coronavirus outbreaks. Albee said it’s not clear yet how much money the county will get.

“We were asked to put a budget together and submit it,” Albee said. “And it was right around $900,000, [which] is our best guess at this point in time. We have put out a call for resources to get more test kits here."

On Saturday, Sisolak said that he has been in contact with U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen to secure federal funding with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The governor’s office is also working to set up COVID-19 testing at private health laboratories throughout the state.  

Credit Bree Zender / KUNR Public Radio

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KUNR Public Radio

Nevada currently has two presumptive positive coronavirus cases, pending confirmation from the CDC. One Washoe County man likely contracted the virus on a trip to Mexico on the Grand Princess cruise ship in February, according to county officials. People who have been in contact with him, as well as people who are known to have been near outbreaks, are currently being screened for symptoms and tested. Placer County, California announced the death of one of its residents on Wednesday from the virus, after likely contracting it on that same cruise ship. Nevada officials said there were 40 state residents on the ship, and public health workers are tracking them down to screen for symptoms, and possibly test them if they meet the current standard.

On Friday, the Washoe County School District shut down Huffaker Elementary School, as the presumptive patient in the county had a family member who attends the school. Multiple students had flu-like symptoms, but health officials said testing conducted on Friday came back negative for COVID-19.

Editor's Note: A sentence in this post was altered to more clearly reflect the time of death and residency of the Placer County resident.

Nevada Cruise Ship Passengers Being Evaluated State Of Nevada Grateful To Local Health Authorities For Swift Action Upon Notification

9:51 a.m. PST | March 7, 2020
Press Release By Nevada Department of Health and Human Services
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE TO MEDIA - Timestamp: 7:05 p.m. PST | March 6, 2020

Get Caught Up

• March 6 | COVID-19 Testing Results For Huffaker Students Come Back Negative
• March 6 | First COVID-19 Case In Washoe County: Prompts One School In South Reno To Close
• March 6 | Washoe County Health District COVID-19 Infographic

COVID-19 Testing Results For Huffaker Students Come Back Negative Negative Results Include Family Member Of Resident Who Was A Presumptive Positive For COVID-19

10:08 p.m. PST | March 6, 2020
Press Release By Washoe County Health District
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

First COVID-19 Case In Washoe County: Prompts One School In South Reno To Close

6:52 p.m. PST | March 6, 2020
Updated 9:20 a.m. PST | March 7, 2020
By Anh Gray and Stephanie Serrano

Editor's Note: The Washoe County Health District reported the first presumptive positive COVID-19 case on Thursday, March 6. Health officials did not provide specific details about the individual's family, but said that he had family at Huffaker Elementary School.

Serrano: Bring us up to speed about the new cases of COVID-19 in Nevada.

Gray: The first "presumptive positive" case in Washoe comes on the heels of the first presumptive positive case in Clark County, Nevada. Both were announced yesterday [Thursday, March 5]. The Southern Nevada Health District announced their case in the morning and Washoe County Health District announced theirs later that evening. [Nevada] went from having zero cases, to learning we have two presumptive positive cases. Presumptive positive cases mean that an individual received a positive test in the state, but then the sample is then sent to the CDC for confirmation. 

Serrano: What exactly do we know about these individuals? 

Gray: Let me start with the Washoe case. Local health authorities report that that person is a male in his fifties. They say the case is travel related. He is linked to the Grand Princess cruise ship and it is unclear at this point when he returned to Washoe County. Health officials do tell us that he is in stable condition and is self-quarantining at home. As far as the Clark County case is concerned, it is also a man in his fifties and he traveled to Washington and Texas, and those two states have reported the presence of COVID-19 in their communities. The Southern Nevada Health District has informed us that that person is hospitalized and in isolation. 

Gray: I know you attended the Washoe County Health District press conference this morning [Friday, March 6] where they were providing more information about the new case. What did you learn?

Serrano: The person who tested presumptive positive also had family members at Huffaker Elementary School. This meant that the school shut down [Friday, March 6]. Parents received information that the school was closing to deep clean last night and deep clean again. Several students had been experiencing flu-like symptoms, which means now they will also be tested for COVID-19. Kevin Dick with the Washoe County Health District said the department worked closely with the school district to close the school out of caution and reiterated that there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 at the school.

The people who are being tested are being asked to self-quarantine. 

Serrano: Anh, you spoke to a mom from Huffaker's Elementary School. What did she have to say?

Gray: The mom that I spoke to, her name is Hailey Spencer. She has a 3-year-old daughter who attends preschool at Huffaker and she said that she did receive a message from the school yesterday saying that they had some concerns about the stomach flu among students at the school. She then received another email message saying that there were concerns about some students exhibiting flu-like symptoms, and then it was later on in the evening that she received a call saying that the school would be closed today. And because there were those various messages, each one mentioning different types of illnesses, she said it was a little bit confusing and had some concerns.

"I would appreciate a more clear answer on what is going on," Spencer said. "I know that they are sanitizing, but what are their plans in the future if any more kids come up sick? The school bus situation, how they are going to handle that, and the playground equipment, are they sanitizing all of that? I would just like more of a clear answer from them and I feel like they are trying not to scare everyone, which I understand, but the parents deserve to know exactly what is going on and what they are planning on doing for the future.” 

Serrano: I checked in with school district officials. They said the health district is taking the lead on the situation. Anh, what else do we need to know?

Gray: The Washoe County Health District’s health officer, Kevin Dick, did say that they would be testing some members that may have been in contact with that individual and will update the community once information is available. Kevin Dick also reported that there were other Reno residents that were on the Grand Princess cruise ship, so they will be monitoring that situation and updating the public as necessary. I also want to note in neighboring Placer County, there's been reports, too, that there are other residents in that community who were on that same cruise ship, and there was one reported death in Placer County linked to a passenger on that cruise ship. It really is an evolving situation and we will be learning more information in the next days and weeks.  

Washoe County Health District COVID-19 Infographic

4:08 p.m. PST | March 6, 2020
By Washoe County Health District

Get Caught Up

• March 6 | Elementary School In Reno Closes, Multiple Students Tested For COVID-19
• March 5 | Washoe County Has Presumptive Case Of COVID-19
• March 5 | Response To Coronavirus In Placer County

Elementary School In Reno Closes, Multiple Students Tested For COVID-19

12:27 p.m. PST | March 6, 2020
By Bree Zender

Multiple students with flu-like symptoms at Huffaker Elementary School are being tested for COVID-19, according to the Washoe County Health District.

Officials said no student cases have been confirmed at this hour.

This comes after a family member of a student tested presumptively positive for the coronavirus, pending confirmation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The patient is a man in his 50s, quarantined at home, and is in stable condition.

County Health District Officer Kevin Dick said the patient was aboard the Grand Princess cruise ship. Multiple passengers and crewmembers on board the boat have tested positive for the virus.

"I think the positive news at this point is that this is a travel-related case that we've identified, and that we have not yet identified any community transmission," Dick said.

Huffaker Elementary School was closed today out of caution. The health district is advising everyone to frequently and thoroughly wash your hands, and stay home if you feel sick.

Washoe County Has Presumptive Case Of COVID-19 Huffaker Elementary School Closed Friday Out Of An Abundance Of Caution

10:30 p.m. PST | March 5, 2020
Press Release By Washoe County Health District
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Response To Coronavirus In Placer County

5:42 p.m. PST | March 5, 2020
By Andrew Mendez

One person died Wednesday from the coronavirus in Placer County, California, where a local and state-wide health emergency has been declared.

Doctor Aimee Sisson is the Placer County health officer. She said the patient tested positive on Tuesday and was at an increased risk due to underlying health conditions and age. 

“While we are not at the point where I would consider canceling events, closing schools or requiring widespread social distancing measures, we do want the public to prepare for that possibility,” Sisson said.

Ten health care workers and five first responders were in direct contact with the patient and are under quarantine and not exhibiting symptoms. 

Officials said the patient was symptomatic while on a cruise from San Francisco to Mexico, and was admitted to Kaiser Permanente in Roseville, California last week.   

Public health officials advise vulnerable people to stay at home as much as possible, wash hands on a regular basis and minimize contact with people and common surfaces.

Get Caught Up

• March 5 | Public Funding, Staff Low To Respond To Coronavirus In Washoe County
• March 5 | Southern Nevada Health District Announces Positive Case Of COVID-19 In A Clark County Resident
• March 5 | How Coronavirus Testing In Nevada Is Performed

Public Funding, Staff Low To Respond To Coronavirus In Washoe County

4:19 p.m. PST | March 5, 2020
By Bree Zender

Nevada now has one case of “presumptive” coronavirus in Southern Nevada. In order to find out what you can do to prepare here in Northern Nevada, KUNR’s Bree Zender spoke with Dr. Randall Todd, the director of epidemiology at the Washoe County Health District.

Zender: If you're starting to feel some flu-like symptoms, at what point should you reach out to your doctor? 

Todd: Well, certainly if you're feeling ill and you think it could be this, call your doctor's office. I would say don't just show up there. Call first, let them know and then they would advise on when you should come. They might want to meet you in the parking lot with a mask, so that you don't come in and expose the staff and other patients in the waiting room to something like this. So it's important to just be in communication with your health care provider.

Zender: In terms of testing kits, do we have any available here in Washoe County? 

Todd: The federal government has made some testing kits available to the state public health laboratory, which is located here on the campus of UNR. This is for the whole state, so it's not just for Washoe County. It's not even just for Northern Nevada. We don't know how far those might stretch if we started to have to use them, but it's good to know they're here. 

Zender: How has the district coordinated with other agencies about coronavirus so far? 

Todd: We have been talking with the Washoe County School District. We've been talking with Washoe County Emergency Management. We've been talking with various law enforcement agencies, fire agencies. There's almost no entity that you could think of that we haven't been in communication with. [We’re] wanting to let them know that we're here to help, and we are hoping that they're here to help as well.

Zender: We have a large Spanish speaking community here in Northern Nevada. Is there outreach that has been done to keep them informed as well? 

Todd: We've been working toward developing translations of some of our educational material that we're putting on our website. So that's available in both English and Spanish.

Zender: An outbreak at an assisted living facility near Seattle, Washington has left several people dead from the coronavirus. What can we learn from that situation?

Todd: Well, if we were to see an outbreak in a facility here in Washoe County, we would be taking steps to try to make sure that the people who've been exposed are being closely monitored, so that if they actually develop the disease, contacts with them can be limited, so that it doesn't spread any further than maybe it already has.

Zender: In other areas throughout the world, there [have] been outbreaks. In Wuhan, China, [residents] have been quarantined for quite some time, some weeks, due to their outbreaks that they're having there. Do you think that might be in the realm of possibilities here in Washoe County? 

Todd: There are different levels of quarantine. If we were to start to see human cases here, we would most likely want to at least isolate people who are considered to be contagious to others, so that they don't pass it along. Depending on their home situation, isolating them at home may or may not be the best option. If they have people in the home who are susceptible, that would not necessarily be a good idea. So they might need to be in a facility of some sort.

Zender: So quarantine on an individual level, rather than blanket coordinating? 

Todd: Yes. 

Zender: There's a lot of people talking about what's going on with coronavirus or COVID-19. Are there any misconceptions about the virus that you're hearing about that you would like to clear up?

Todd: Well, I think there are people that think it's just another version of the flu, because the symptoms are rather similar. But it's not the flu. It's a different disease. It's caused by a different virus. We want people to take appropriate precautions to not contract this, because [the] level of seriousness is still somewhat unknown. This didn't jump the species barrier all that long ago, and so the full ramifications are not completely known to us. 

Zender: In recent years, funding for public health in Nevada has been awfully low. Will there be any funding to respond to a possible outbreak? And where would that come from? 

Todd: Well, public health funding in Nevada has always been too low. We rank near the bottom of the states. If you were to list all the states by how much public health funding they get, Nevada is going to be at or near the bottom of that list. So I do understand that the federal government is working on identifying some funding that can be made available to states, to help them in their efforts to combat and control this disease. And so we're looking forward to that. 

Zender: Do you know how much that might be? Or is that still up in the air?

Todd: I don't know. 

Zender: So where's the health district and health care providers at in terms of staffing and in response to a possible outbreak? Do you think we are adequately staffed to have something like that happen? 

Todd: Well, I think right now, it's somewhat marginal for [the health district]. We're letting some things go because we're having to focus on this, but we try to prioritize and still deal with the most important issues. Now, if we started to see actual cases and things started to really get going, we would not be adequately staffed. So we'd have to be looking to get some additional help. 

Zender: Would that come from the federal government? 

Todd: Well, I would think that the money would come from the federal government.

Zender: Where would the extra staff come from? 

Todd: We would probably just have to put out a notice publicly that we're hiring. 

Zender: So there’s been other coronaviruses out there, like SARS, the outbreak in the early 2000s. What have we learned from those outbreaks that we can apply to [this] coronavirus?

Todd: Well, I think we've learned that these are illnesses, that at least for the ones that we've dealt with, can be controlled. And we're hopeful that this new one is also going to be able to be controlled. We don't know that just yet. So we're going to learn a lot more in the coming weeks and months.

Zender: As an infectious disease professional, is there anything that concerns you about coronavirus? 

Todd: What mostly concerns me about this is what we still don't know about it. We don't know if it's going to be more serious than the ones we've dealt with previously. We don't know if the people who have minimal symptoms are very infectious. So that would be an important thing to find out. So it's a little bit disconcerting when there's probably more things that we don't know than that we do know.

Southern Nevada Health District Announces Positive Case Of COVID-19 In A Clark County Resident

10:50 a.m. PST | March 5, 2020
Press Release By Southern Nevada Health District
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

How Coronavirus Testing In Nevada Is Performed

10:07 a.m. PST | March 5, 2020
By Anh Gray

The Southern Nevada Health District has announced the first "presumptive positive" case of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in a Clark County resident. Test results are considered presumptive positive until the result is confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The patient is a male in his 50s, who is hospitalized and currently in airborne isolation." 

In a new press release, Washoe County Health District officials are stating that “health care facilities are being inundated with calls and patients arriving at their locations unannounced.” The district is advising residents with symptoms to contact their medical provider for guidance. The Washoe County Health District is advising residents with symptoms of fever, cough and difficulty breathing to call their medical provider for guidance or use a telemedicine option if it's available. If residents do not have any symptoms, health officials are asking residents to not contact their medical provider.

The Nevada State Public Health Laboratory is located at the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine. The lab is charged with testing for the novel coronavirus. KUNR’s Anh Gray spoke with Dr. Mark Pandori, who’s the director of the lab, to learn more about testing in the community.

Editor's Note: The interview with Dr. Mark Pandori took place on Wednesday, March 4, before the first presumptively positive case of COVID-19 in Nevada was reported.

Gray: Do you have information, if people exhibit symptoms, where they're supposed to go? Are those test kits available to providers in the community? Who are the ones that have them?

Pandori: If you feel very ill, you will see your clinician, and your clinician would then decide or ascertain by asking questions whether or not you might be at risk for coronavirus. If you're symptomatic and they don't have any risk ascertained, they may run a few lab tests to see if you have anything which is circulating right now, because it is flu season and cold season. So you might have something more common, or that were at least something that we more commonly deal with.

And if you are negative for that, it's possible that your case would be discussed with public health. If public health agreed that testing was warranted, the public health laboratory here at the School of Medicine on the UNR campus, the state public health lab for Nevada, can run the test. The good news is that that specimen is very likely going to be the same specimen that is possible to use to test for influenza or for the cold or for other respiratory diseases.

That test for COVID-19 would then come to the state public health lab and we would perform the test there, but that specimen collection would occur right there in the doctor's office, and we have a network of couriers that would facilitate that.

Gray: What does that mean, a network of couriers?

Pandori: A network of people who can retrieve the specimen from the doctor's office and take it to the state public health lab in a car, for example.

Gray: And that's where you come in.

Pandori: Correct. The Southern health district has a laboratory in Clark County that would serve Clark County. The state public health lab here at the University of Nevada School of Medicine campus is the public health lab for the entire state of Nevada. But there is testing available in Clark County.

Gray: So basically, people get swabbed at a clinician's office. If the test comes back negative for other types of illnesses and the clinician decides maybe we need to see if this is coronavirus, a courier will come take the specimen to your lab. Your lab will analyze it. How long does it take to get the results? And what will that trigger once you get that information?

Pandori: When the lab receives the specimen, so that's brought to our laboratory, it would take our lab between three and four hours to generate a result as to whether or not the coronavirus 2019 is present or not in that specimen.

If it was negative, we would share that result with the clinician and with public health. If it was positive, we would also share that result with the clinician, who ordered the test, and with public health officials. If it was positive, we would then send that specimen to CDC to confirm it.

Gray: Have you ever seen anything like this before?

Pandori: Yes. This shares many of the same dimensions, in different ways, and I don't mean to minimize this, I don't mean to say we've seen this all before because you'd never take an attitude like that for something this serious. But in terms of the kind of virus that it is and how it spreads, in 2009, you may recall we had what was initially called swine influenza, now known as the pandemic H1N1 strain. And that's actually become a normal strain in the community of influenza, but at first, you may recall that we were dealing with what we thought were very high death rates from that strain of influenza. We saw that it started in another country, and then it spread, and then we started to see cases in community spread here in the United States. In that regard, it's almost identical, for all the features that I just laid out to that 2009 thing that we dealt with.

But in many ways also, it's similar to Ebola, which we had a few years ago. With that, we had, again, something that started in another country. It started to be seen in other countries throughout the world, and the death rate is very high, much higher for Ebola, I have to say parenthetically. In those two instances, we were dealing with something similar in terms of scope and in terms of dynamics.

Coronavirus In Nevada Updates: Sunday, March 15

4:34 p.m. PDT | March 15, 2020
By KUNR Staff

Nev. Gov. Sisolak Closing All K-12 Schools Statewide:

All K-12 Nevada schools, including public, private and charter schools, are temporarily shutting down through April 6 in order to battle the spread of COVID-19. Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak announced the closure of all 17 districts across the state Sunday.

Sisolak also said the Nevada Department of Education will work with specific districts to create food security plans for low-income students.

Sisolak said this was a difficult and high impact decision in support of social distancing because it will place a childcare burden on working parents. He expressed awareness that these closures will create hardships for Nevada families.

In the Clark County School District, which is the fifth largest in the nation, students were expected to be on spring break from April 3-10. In the second most populous district, Washoe County, students began their two-week break Friday.

Calif. Gov. Newsom Announces Significant Social Distancing Measures:

California Governor Gavin Newsom is calling for the closure of all bars and wineries, along with the home isolation of everyone 65 and older.

The Sacramento Bee is reporting that Newsom issued the sweeping restrictions on Sunday as a form of "deep social distancing" in order to be pragmatic in the state's response to the coronavirus pandemic.

The announcement is aimed at keeping people away from each other, but it did not go so far as to close restaurants. Newsom said that restaurants can operate at reduced capacity and utilize home deliveries and curbside service.

Fourth Coronavirus Case Identified In Washoe Co. On Saturday, March 14:

The Washoe County Health District has identified a fourth case of COVID-19 in the county.

According to health officials this fourth person is a presumptive positive case and awaits CDC confirmation. This new case in Washoe is a man in his twenties with no travel history outside of the area. And he’s not linked to the previous three identified COVID-19 cases in the county.

In a press conference Saturday, County Health Officer Kevin Dick said this new case is a community transmission, which could mean there’s a likelihood of other unidentified cases.

Health officials are advising people to take precautions like social distancing and frequent hand washing. Authorities are also advising the public against hoarding food and supplies, suggesting instead to purchase a few extra items when making store visits. The health district is also supporting community decisions to cancel or postpone group events.

Many Tahoe Ski Resorts Are Closing Due To Coronavirus:

Vail Resorts and Alterra Mountain Company announced over the weekend that they are shuttering nearly 50 popular resorts. The Tahoe Daily Tribune is reporting that Vail will close its properties for seven days, starting Sunday, March 15, and then reevaluate the situation. Alterra’s closure will begin the same day but will be indefinite.

These closures impact Heavenly and Kirkwood on Tahoe’s South Shore, along with Northstar California and Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows up north.

Mount Rose ski resort has also announced that it will close for the rest of the season due to public health concerns.

Washoe Co. Libraries Are Closed:

All Washoe County libraries are closed to reduce the spread of COVID-19, the Washoe County library director said in a statement.

Get Caught Up

• March 13 | Coronavirus In Nevada Updates: Friday, March 13
• March 13 | Who Can Get A COVID-19 Test In Washoe County?
• March 13 | Renown Sets Up Alternate Care Site To Evaluate Respiratory Illness

Coronavirus In Nevada Updates: Friday, March 13

9:52 p.m. PDT | March 13, 2020
By KUNR Staff

Nevada Reports New Presumptive Positive Cases On March 13:

One person in Washoe County, along with eight more people in Clark County, have been diagnosed with COVID-19, according to the Southern Nevada and Washoe County Health Districts.

Officials said the patients range from their twenties through their sixties.

In Washoe County, the patient was identified as a woman in her twenties who recently traveled to Germany and France.

The Washoe County woman, and most of the Clark patients, are self-isolated at home. One man in his sixties is hospitalized and is in serious condition.

The Southern Nevada Health District did not release the status of two other men. Southern Nevada officials did not provide details on where most of the people may have contracted the virus from.

This brings the total number of confirmed cases in Nevada up to 20. Most of the tests are still waiting on confirmation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

City Of Reno Declares State Of Emergency:

The City of Reno has declared a state of emergency. The Nevada Independent is reporting that with the declaration, the city will now have the ability to redirect funds for emergency use, create mutual aid agreements, ban large gatherings and establish a curfew. At this point, city leaders are still deciding how they may utilize the declaration.

Mountain West Cancels Spring Sports Competitions:

Statement from the Mountain West on March 12:

TMCC Moving To Online Instruction:

Truckee Meadows Community College is moving to alternate operations in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. TMCC will have online instruction only, starting March 30. Classes will be delivered remotely, but all TMCC locations will remain open.

WCSD Postpones Athletics and Extracurriculars:

The Washoe County School District has announced that all school, district and non-district sponsored athletics are suspended, effective Monday, along with other extra-curricular activities, assemblies, and practices. All district-sponsored travel is also suspended.

In a statement released Friday, district officials said that it's important to note that there are no planned school closures at this time and that their goal is to keep schools open so that teaching and learning can continue. The district is heading into its two-week spring break, which runs from March 16-27.

Washoe Co. Suspends Non-Essential Meetings, Events:

Washoe County officials have decided to suspend all non-essential government events and business meetings. They released a statement on Friday saying their goal is “to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19 and to support the Washoe County Health District’s efforts to decrease the opportunity for disease transmission.”

This includes the Board of Commissioners meeting that was supposed to be on Tuesday, March 17. The statement also noted: “Washoe County leadership and staff are working to create alternative public meeting options for future meetings, and more information and updates will be forthcoming.”

Neighboring Placer Co. Closes Public Schools for Three Weeks:

The Placer Co. Office of Education released a statement on March 13, explaining that district administrators have decided to close all public schools and state preschools in Placer County for the next three weeks. The statement noted that “schools will be contacting families promptly about vital services and resources available to them throughout the closure including distance learning options and meals.”

The office is also recommending that families practice social distancing and protect vulnerable people, including senior citizens. “While children have not been shown to be a high-risk group for serious illness from COVID-19, they are still able to transmit the virus to populations who are most vulnerable to serious illness, such as older adults and those with compromised immune systems. Be mindful in childcare decisions to avoid exposing vulnerable persons, such as grandparents, to children.”

Officials also urged families not to gather in places like shopping malls, movie theaters or community centers while schools are closed.

Who Can Get A COVID-19 Test In Washoe County?

6:47 p.m. PDT | March 13, 2020
By Bree Zender

Some people who have flu-like symptoms may not be sure if they should get tested for COVID-19. The Washoe County Health District has a set of criteria for who should be tested. The criteria the district sets is based on recommendations from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Kevin Dick with the health district said testing criteria is based on a variety of factors, which may include the symptoms an individual is exhibiting, recent travel, or whether someone has been exposed to another person who has a confirmed case of COVID-19.

Read more from this update.

Renown Sets Up Alternate Care Site To Evaluate Respiratory Illness

3:06 p.m. PDT | March 13, 2020
By Anh Gray

Credit Anh Gray / KUNR

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KUNR

Governor Steve Sisolak declared a state or emergency to deal with the spread of coronavirus in Nevada on Thursday night. Health officials have identified 11 cases of COVID-19 in the state.

As the coronavirus pandemic continues to spread around the country, Renown Health in downtown Reno recently set up a deployable medical facility. Providers can screen and evaluate patients with symptoms of respiratory illness in a tented area that serves as an extension of the emergency room.

Read more about this alternate care site.

Get Caught Up

• March 12 | Coronavirus In Nevada Updates: Thursday, March 12
• March 12 | Update: Clark County Case Numbers
• March 12 | Coronavirus In Northern Nevada Updates

Coronavirus In Nevada Updates: Thursday, March 12

10:02 p.m. PDT | March 12, 2020
By KUNR Staff

Emergency Declaration:

Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak has declared a state of emergency in response to the growing concerns over the coronavirus. Sisolak made the announcement on Thursday evening in Las Vegas, only hours after health officials confirmed the eleventh case of the disease in Nevada.

Speaking at a press conference, Sisolak said the declaration is meant to help ease access to state and federal funding, and to help prevent the spread of the respiratory illness.

“I want to stress that declaring a state of emergency, while certainly a mark of the seriousness with which we are taking this effort, is not a reason to panic. This declaration is the first step to opening up access to our state's emergency resources," said Sisolak.

In addition to increased funding, the declaration activates the state's emergency operation center, which will centralize the response to the virus. The move also loosens regulations for government agencies to purchase food and other supplies.

UNR Goes Online:

The University of Nevada, Reno said students will not return to class after spring break. They will instead transition to online instruction, beginning March 23, due to COVID-19 concerns. The university made the announcement to faculty, staff and students in an email late Thursday afternoon.

While students may not be returning this semester, school officials said the university will remain open. According to the notice, the decision is part of a concerted effort to greatly reduce the collection of people on campus, in order to diminish the spread of the coronavirus.

As of Thursday, March 12, there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 on campus.

Carson Corona:

Health officials in Carson City said a 70-year-old woman is the third person in Northern Nevada to test presumptively positive for the coronavirus, bringing the state's total number of cases to 11.

According to Carson City health officials, the woman became sick after returning from a trip to San Jose earlier this month. She is currently self-isolating with her husband, both of who are being monitored daily.

Speaking at a press conference, Nicki Aaker, director of the Carson City Department of Health and Human Services, told reporters the district is not planning to take further action, like closing schools, at this time due to the circumstances of the infection.

"This is only one case and it is travel related. It's not spread in our community. Of course, at this time, we're not planning on advising [school closings], but we will continue to monitor the situation because the situation [can] change on a momentary basis."

In addition to the state's capital city, the Carson City Health District also provides services to Lyon, Douglas and Storey counties. Officials are continuing to ask residents to be mindful of their health and to take steps to prevent further infections.

More Southern Nevada Cases:

Officials from the Southern Nevada Health District said they have diagnosed three new presumptive positive cases in Clark County. No further details were announced.

This brings the total number of confirmed and presumptive cases in Nevada to eleven, with eight in Clark County.

Mountain West Sports Suspended:

The NCAA Mountain West Conference has suspended all spring sports indefinitely. This includes Nevada and UNLV teams. Conference officials said this is a move of caution to avoid possible spread of the coronavirus.

Teams that have qualified for the NCAA basketball tournament may still participate under the directions of their institution. The NCAA will have the final call on whether the tournament will go on or not.

NCAA officials have said the teams are set to play, but no fans will be allowed into the arenas.

Update: Clark County Case Numbers For March 12, 2020

11:24 a.m. PDT | March 12, 2020
Press Release By Southern Nevada Health District
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Coronavirus In Northern Nevada Updates: Thursday, March 12

11:19 a.m. PDT | March 12, 2020
Updates From The University Of Nevada, Reno

UNR Preparation:

UNR/UNLV Games:

Press Release By The Nevada Attorney General

Scam Warning:

Press Release By Renown Hospital

Renown Screening Tent

Get Caught Up

• March 11 | Southern Nevada Health District Announces Three New Positive Cases Of COVID-19
• March 10 | Nevada Outlines Conditions For Safe And Secure Return Of Resident Cruise Ship Passengers
• March 10 | Coronavirus In Nevada Updates

Southern Nevada Health District Announces Three New Positive Cases Of COVID-19 A Total Of Five Presumptive Positive Cases Reported In Clark County

1:52 p.m. PDT | March 11, 2020
Press Release By Southern Nevada Health District
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Nevada Outlines Conditions For Safe And Secure Return Of Resident Cruise Ship Passengers All Passengers Returning To Nevada Will Be Asymptomatic

9:13 p.m. PDT | March 10, 2020
By Michelle Billman

The CDC has confirmed that the first presumptive positive case of the coronavirus in Washoe County is positive. This is a man in his fifties who returned from a Grand Princess cruise ship in late February.

Washoe County health officials made the announcement Tuesday. They are still waiting for confirmation from the CDC regarding the second presumptive positive case in the county.

There are no additional presumptive positive cases at this point in Washoe.

Officials have also been concerned about a Grand Princess cruise ship that's in the San Francisco Bay area. They said that 49 passengers will be returning to Nevada and will be isolated in quarantine for 14 days after they arrive in the state. All of these passengers are asymptomatic at this time. All of them must agree to be tested for COVID-19 before they return to the state and they must agree to the self-isolation period.

There are more details on this situation in the press release below:

Press Release By Department of Health and Human Services
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE TO MEDIA - Timestamp: 1:47 p.m. PST | March 10, 2020

Coronavirus In Nevada Updates: Tuesday, March 10

9:27 a.m. PDT | March 10, 2020
By Anh Gray

Four people in Nevada have tested presumptively positive for COVID-19. Two of those cases are in Washoe County, and deemed by health officials to be travel-related cases.

Over the weekend, county health authorities recommended that the community curb travel plans in order to limit the spread of the virus.

Additionally, there are 15 residents from Carson City, Douglas and Lyon County returning from the Grand Princess cruise ship, which eventually docked in Oakland, California after several days of delay due to cases of COVID-19 aboard. Carson City Health and Human Services is following guidelines from the CDC to monitor those individuals for a 14-day-period. Overall, the state is working to repatriate 49 Nevadans from the cruise ship today (Tuesday).

In addition, there have been other community responses related to concerns about the coronavirus:

Yesterday (Monday), Renown Health announced a new policy to restrict visitors. The hospital will make some exceptions for extenuating circumstances, such as severe trauma. No visitors under the age of 12 will be permitted. Also, all volunteer operations at the hospital have been suspended.

The Washoe County School District has announced that it has canceled all out-of-state and all international district-sponsored travel for students and staff. This includes conferences and activities related to athletics and academics. Currently, in-state events will continue as scheduled. You can find more updates from the WCSD here.

The Reno Gazette-Journal is reporting that Patagonia closed all of its operations in Reno yesterday in response to an employee’s claim of being exposed to the coronavirus. The Washoe County Health District investigated the employee’s claim and later determined that the claim was “fabricated.”

Correction to Carson City Health and Human Services Press Release on March 9, 2020

8:25 p.m. PDT | March 9, 2020
Press Release By Department of Health and Human Services
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE TO MEDIA - Timestamp: 5:53 p.m. PST | March 9, 2020

Editor’s Note: KUNR posted the original press release provided by Carson City Health and Human Services on Monday, March 9 regarding the Nevada passengers on the Grand Princess cruise ship. Since a correction was made to the press release, KUNR has removed it from our website and posted the updated version to ensure accurate information is shared.

Get Caught Up

• March 8 | Washoe County Has Second Presumptive Positive Case Of COVID-19
• March 7 | Washoe County Debuts ‘Drive-Thru’ COVID-19 Testing For People With Symptoms
• March 7 | Nevada Cruise Ship Passengers Being Evaluated

Washoe County Has Second Presumptive Positive Case Of COVID-19 Health District Is Identifying Close Contacts, Urges Continued Caution To Residents

11:02 a.m. PDT | March 8, 2020
Press Release By Washoe County Health District
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Washoe County Debuts ‘Drive-Thru’ COVID-19 Testing For People With Symptoms

2:02 p.m. PST | March 7, 2020
By Bree Zender

Credit Bree Zender / KUNR Public Radio

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KUNR Public Radio

Washoe County is streamlining its free coronavirus testing plan as they begin to request federal funding for more testing supplies.

At a Saturday press conference, Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak said he is working with Nevada’s federal representatives and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to acquire funding.

On Friday, the County Health District began asking those who meet the testing criteria to do a ‘drive-thru’ test, located outside of their tuberculosis testing facility. Health officials said testing is not open to the general public. District officials said this drive-thru process reduces the risk of transmission, because it’s an open-air test done outdoors. People with suspected COVID-19 will stay in their cars with the window rolled down, as nurses administer the swab test.  

“It’s a two-step process. So one is of the throat,” said Charlene Albee, director of Washoe County's Environmental Health Services. “And the other one is a swab that goes up one side of the nostrils, up into the sinuses, and then pulls out. Then goes into the other side.”

Credit Bree Zender / KUNR Public Radio

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KUNR Public Radio

For the time being, tests will be administered from 9:00 a.m. through 1:00 p.m. At this point, Albee estimates they could administer six tests an hour. Then, all the day’s swabs are sent to the public health laboratory on the University of Nevada, Reno campus. The results should come out by 5:30 p.m. that day. 

On Friday, President Donald Trump signed an $8 billion emergency preparedness bill, which will send money to local, state and tribal agencies, to respond to possible coronavirus outbreaks. Albee said it’s not clear yet how much money the county will get.

“We were asked to put a budget together and submit it,” Albee said. “And it was right around $900,000, [which] is our best guess at this point in time. We have put out a call for resources to get more test kits here."

On Saturday, Sisolak said that he has been in contact with U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen to secure federal funding with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The governor’s office is also working to set up COVID-19 testing at private health laboratories throughout the state.  

Credit Bree Zender / KUNR Public Radio

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KUNR Public Radio

Nevada currently has two presumptive positive coronavirus cases, pending confirmation from the CDC. One Washoe County man likely contracted the virus on a trip to Mexico on the Grand Princess cruise ship in February, according to county officials. People who have been in contact with him, as well as people who are known to have been near outbreaks, are currently being screened for symptoms and tested. Placer County, California announced the death of one of its residents on Wednesday from the virus, after likely contracting it on that same cruise ship. Nevada officials said there were 40 state residents on the ship, and public health workers are tracking them down to screen for symptoms, and possibly test them if they meet the current standard.

On Friday, the Washoe County School District shut down Huffaker Elementary School, as the presumptive patient in the county had a family member who attends the school. Multiple students had flu-like symptoms, but health officials said testing conducted on Friday came back negative for COVID-19.

Editor's Note: A sentence in this post was altered to more clearly reflect the time of death and residency of the Placer County resident.

Nevada Cruise Ship Passengers Being Evaluated State Of Nevada Grateful To Local Health Authorities For Swift Action Upon Notification

9:51 a.m. PST | March 7, 2020
Press Release By Nevada Department of Health and Human Services
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE TO MEDIA - Timestamp: 7:05 p.m. PST | March 6, 2020

Get Caught Up

• March 6 | COVID-19 Testing Results For Huffaker Students Come Back Negative
• March 6 | First COVID-19 Case In Washoe County: Prompts One School In South Reno To Close
• March 6 | Washoe County Health District COVID-19 Infographic

COVID-19 Testing Results For Huffaker Students Come Back Negative Negative Results Include Family Member Of Resident Who Was A Presumptive Positive For COVID-19

10:08 p.m. PST | March 6, 2020
Press Release By Washoe County Health District
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

First COVID-19 Case In Washoe County: Prompts One School In South Reno To Close

6:52 p.m. PST | March 6, 2020
Updated 9:20 a.m. PST | March 7, 2020
By Anh Gray and Stephanie Serrano

Editor's Note: The Washoe County Health District reported the first presumptive positive COVID-19 case on Thursday, March 6. Health officials did not provide specific details about the individual's family, but said that he had family at Huffaker Elementary School.

Serrano: Bring us up to speed about the new cases of COVID-19 in Nevada.

Gray: The first "presumptive positive" case in Washoe comes on the heels of the first presumptive positive case in Clark County, Nevada. Both were announced yesterday [Thursday, March 5]. The Southern Nevada Health District announced their case in the morning and Washoe County Health District announced theirs later that evening. [Nevada] went from having zero cases, to learning we have two presumptive positive cases. Presumptive positive cases mean that an individual received a positive test in the state, but then the sample is then sent to the CDC for confirmation. 

Serrano: What exactly do we know about these individuals? 

Gray: Let me start with the Washoe case. Local health authorities report that that person is a male in his fifties. They say the case is travel related. He is linked to the Grand Princess cruise ship and it is unclear at this point when he returned to Washoe County. Health officials do tell us that he is in stable condition and is self-quarantining at home. As far as the Clark County case is concerned, it is also a man in his fifties and he traveled to Washington and Texas, and those two states have reported the presence of COVID-19 in their communities. The Southern Nevada Health District has informed us that that person is hospitalized and in isolation. 

Gray: I know you attended the Washoe County Health District press conference this morning [Friday, March 6] where they were providing more information about the new case. What did you learn?

Serrano: The person who tested presumptive positive also had family members at Huffaker Elementary School. This meant that the school shut down [Friday, March 6]. Parents received information that the school was closing to deep clean last night and deep clean again. Several students had been experiencing flu-like symptoms, which means now they will also be tested for COVID-19. Kevin Dick with the Washoe County Health District said the department worked closely with the school district to close the school out of caution and reiterated that there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 at the school.

The people who are being tested are being asked to self-quarantine. 

Serrano: Anh, you spoke to a mom from Huffaker's Elementary School. What did she have to say?

Gray: The mom that I spoke to, her name is Hailey Spencer. She has a 3-year-old daughter who attends preschool at Huffaker and she said that she did receive a message from the school yesterday saying that they had some concerns about the stomach flu among students at the school. She then received another email message saying that there were concerns about some students exhibiting flu-like symptoms, and then it was later on in the evening that she received a call saying that the school would be closed today. And because there were those various messages, each one mentioning different types of illnesses, she said it was a little bit confusing and had some concerns.

"I would appreciate a more clear answer on what is going on," Spencer said. "I know that they are sanitizing, but what are their plans in the future if any more kids come up sick? The school bus situation, how they are going to handle that, and the playground equipment, are they sanitizing all of that? I would just like more of a clear answer from them and I feel like they are trying not to scare everyone, which I understand, but the parents deserve to know exactly what is going on and what they are planning on doing for the future.” 

Serrano: I checked in with school district officials. They said the health district is taking the lead on the situation. Anh, what else do we need to know?

Gray: The Washoe County Health District’s health officer, Kevin Dick, did say that they would be testing some members that may have been in contact with that individual and will update the community once information is available. Kevin Dick also reported that there were other Reno residents that were on the Grand Princess cruise ship, so they will be monitoring that situation and updating the public as necessary. I also want to note in neighboring Placer County, there's been reports, too, that there are other residents in that community who were on that same cruise ship, and there was one reported death in Placer County linked to a passenger on that cruise ship. It really is an evolving situation and we will be learning more information in the next days and weeks.  

Washoe County Health District COVID-19 Infographic

4:08 p.m. PST | March 6, 2020
By Washoe County Health District

Get Caught Up

• March 6 | Elementary School In Reno Closes, Multiple Students Tested For COVID-19
• March 5 | Washoe County Has Presumptive Case Of COVID-19
• March 5 | Response To Coronavirus In Placer County

Elementary School In Reno Closes, Multiple Students Tested For COVID-19

12:27 p.m. PST | March 6, 2020
By Bree Zender

Multiple students with flu-like symptoms at Huffaker Elementary School are being tested for COVID-19, according to the Washoe County Health District.

Officials said no student cases have been confirmed at this hour.

This comes after a family member of a student tested presumptively positive for the coronavirus, pending confirmation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The patient is a man in his 50s, quarantined at home, and is in stable condition.

County Health District Officer Kevin Dick said the patient was aboard the Grand Princess cruise ship. Multiple passengers and crewmembers on board the boat have tested positive for the virus.

"I think the positive news at this point is that this is a travel-related case that we've identified, and that we have not yet identified any community transmission," Dick said.

Huffaker Elementary School was closed today out of caution. The health district is advising everyone to frequently and thoroughly wash your hands, and stay home if you feel sick.

Washoe County Has Presumptive Case Of COVID-19 Huffaker Elementary School Closed Friday Out Of An Abundance Of Caution

10:30 p.m. PST | March 5, 2020
Press Release By Washoe County Health District
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Response To Coronavirus In Placer County

5:42 p.m. PST | March 5, 2020
By Andrew Mendez

One person died Wednesday from the coronavirus in Placer County, California, where a local and state-wide health emergency has been declared.

Doctor Aimee Sisson is the Placer County health officer. She said the patient tested positive on Tuesday and was at an increased risk due to underlying health conditions and age. 

“While we are not at the point where I would consider canceling events, closing schools or requiring widespread social distancing measures, we do want the public to prepare for that possibility,” Sisson said.

Ten health care workers and five first responders were in direct contact with the patient and are under quarantine and not exhibiting symptoms. 

Officials said the patient was symptomatic while on a cruise from San Francisco to Mexico, and was admitted to Kaiser Permanente in Roseville, California last week.   

Public health officials advise vulnerable people to stay at home as much as possible, wash hands on a regular basis and minimize contact with people and common surfaces.

Get Caught Up

• March 5 | Public Funding, Staff Low To Respond To Coronavirus In Washoe County
• March 5 | Southern Nevada Health District Announces Positive Case Of COVID-19 In A Clark County Resident
• March 5 | How Coronavirus Testing In Nevada Is Performed

Public Funding, Staff Low To Respond To Coronavirus In Washoe County

4:19 p.m. PST | March 5, 2020
By Bree Zender

Nevada now has one case of “presumptive” coronavirus in Southern Nevada. In order to find out what you can do to prepare here in Northern Nevada, KUNR’s Bree Zender spoke with Dr. Randall Todd, the director of epidemiology at the Washoe County Health District.

Zender: If you're starting to feel some flu-like symptoms, at what point should you reach out to your doctor? 

Todd: Well, certainly if you're feeling ill and you think it could be this, call your doctor's office. I would say don't just show up there. Call first, let them know and then they would advise on when you should come. They might want to meet you in the parking lot with a mask, so that you don't come in and expose the staff and other patients in the waiting room to something like this. So it's important to just be in communication with your health care provider.

Zender: In terms of testing kits, do we have any available here in Washoe County? 

Todd: The federal government has made some testing kits available to the state public health laboratory, which is located here on the campus of UNR. This is for the whole state, so it's not just for Washoe County. It's not even just for Northern Nevada. We don't know how far those might stretch if we started to have to use them, but it's good to know they're here. 

Zender: How has the district coordinated with other agencies about coronavirus so far? 

Todd: We have been talking with the Washoe County School District. We've been talking with Washoe County Emergency Management. We've been talking with various law enforcement agencies, fire agencies. There's almost no entity that you could think of that we haven't been in communication with. [We’re] wanting to let them know that we're here to help, and we are hoping that they're here to help as well.

Zender: We have a large Spanish speaking community here in Northern Nevada. Is there outreach that has been done to keep them informed as well? 

Todd: We've been working toward developing translations of some of our educational material that we're putting on our website. So that's available in both English and Spanish.

Zender: An outbreak at an assisted living facility near Seattle, Washington has left several people dead from the coronavirus. What can we learn from that situation?

Todd: Well, if we were to see an outbreak in a facility here in Washoe County, we would be taking steps to try to make sure that the people who've been exposed are being closely monitored, so that if they actually develop the disease, contacts with them can be limited, so that it doesn't spread any further than maybe it already has.

Zender: In other areas throughout the world, there [have] been outbreaks. In Wuhan, China, [residents] have been quarantined for quite some time, some weeks, due to their outbreaks that they're having there. Do you think that might be in the realm of possibilities here in Washoe County? 

Todd: There are different levels of quarantine. If we were to start to see human cases here, we would most likely want to at least isolate people who are considered to be contagious to others, so that they don't pass it along. Depending on their home situation, isolating them at home may or may not be the best option. If they have people in the home who are susceptible, that would not necessarily be a good idea. So they might need to be in a facility of some sort.

Zender: So quarantine on an individual level, rather than blanket coordinating? 

Todd: Yes. 

Zender: There's a lot of people talking about what's going on with coronavirus or COVID-19. Are there any misconceptions about the virus that you're hearing about that you would like to clear up?

Todd: Well, I think there are people that think it's just another version of the flu, because the symptoms are rather similar. But it's not the flu. It's a different disease. It's caused by a different virus. We want people to take appropriate precautions to not contract this, because [the] level of seriousness is still somewhat unknown. This didn't jump the species barrier all that long ago, and so the full ramifications are not completely known to us. 

Zender: In recent years, funding for public health in Nevada has been awfully low. Will there be any funding to respond to a possible outbreak? And where would that come from? 

Todd: Well, public health funding in Nevada has always been too low. We rank near the bottom of the states. If you were to list all the states by how much public health funding they get, Nevada is going to be at or near the bottom of that list. So I do understand that the federal government is working on identifying some funding that can be made available to states, to help them in their efforts to combat and control this disease. And so we're looking forward to that. 

Zender: Do you know how much that might be? Or is that still up in the air?

Todd: I don't know. 

Zender: So where's the health district and health care providers at in terms of staffing and in response to a possible outbreak? Do you think we are adequately staffed to have something like that happen? 

Todd: Well, I think right now, it's somewhat marginal for [the health district]. We're letting some things go because we're having to focus on this, but we try to prioritize and still deal with the most important issues. Now, if we started to see actual cases and things started to really get going, we would not be adequately staffed. So we'd have to be looking to get some additional help. 

Zender: Would that come from the federal government? 

Todd: Well, I would think that the money would come from the federal government.

Zender: Where would the extra staff come from? 

Todd: We would probably just have to put out a notice publicly that we're hiring. 

Zender: So there’s been other coronaviruses out there, like SARS, the outbreak in the early 2000s. What have we learned from those outbreaks that we can apply to [this] coronavirus?

Todd: Well, I think we've learned that these are illnesses, that at least for the ones that we've dealt with, can be controlled. And we're hopeful that this new one is also going to be able to be controlled. We don't know that just yet. So we're going to learn a lot more in the coming weeks and months.

Zender: As an infectious disease professional, is there anything that concerns you about coronavirus? 

Todd: What mostly concerns me about this is what we still don't know about it. We don't know if it's going to be more serious than the ones we've dealt with previously. We don't know if the people who have minimal symptoms are very infectious. So that would be an important thing to find out. So it's a little bit disconcerting when there's probably more things that we don't know than that we do know.

Southern Nevada Health District Announces Positive Case Of COVID-19 In A Clark County Resident

10:50 a.m. PST | March 5, 2020
Press Release By Southern Nevada Health District
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

How Coronavirus Testing In Nevada Is Performed

10:07 a.m. PST | March 5, 2020
By Anh Gray

The Southern Nevada Health District has announced the first "presumptive positive" case of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in a Clark County resident. Test results are considered presumptive positive until the result is confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The patient is a male in his 50s, who is hospitalized and currently in airborne isolation." 

In a new press release, Washoe County Health District officials are stating that “health care facilities are being inundated with calls and patients arriving at their locations unannounced.” The district is advising residents with symptoms to contact their medical provider for guidance. The Washoe County Health District is advising residents with symptoms of fever, cough and difficulty breathing to call their medical provider for guidance or use a telemedicine option if it's available. If residents do not have any symptoms, health officials are asking residents to not contact their medical provider.

The Nevada State Public Health Laboratory is located at the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine. The lab is charged with testing for the novel coronavirus. KUNR’s Anh Gray spoke with Dr. Mark Pandori, who’s the director of the lab, to learn more about testing in the community.

Editor's Note: The interview with Dr. Mark Pandori took place on Wednesday, March 4, before the first presumptively positive case of COVID-19 in Nevada was reported.

Gray: Do you have information, if people exhibit symptoms, where they're supposed to go? Are those test kits available to providers in the community? Who are the ones that have them?

Pandori: If you feel very ill, you will see your clinician, and your clinician would then decide or ascertain by asking questions whether or not you might be at risk for coronavirus. If you're symptomatic and they don't have any risk ascertained, they may run a few lab tests to see if you have anything which is circulating right now, because it is flu season and cold season. So you might have something more common, or that were at least something that we more commonly deal with.

And if you are negative for that, it's possible that your case would be discussed with public health. If public health agreed that testing was warranted, the public health laboratory here at the School of Medicine on the UNR campus, the state public health lab for Nevada, can run the test. The good news is that that specimen is very likely going to be the same specimen that is possible to use to test for influenza or for the cold or for other respiratory diseases.

That test for COVID-19 would then come to the state public health lab and we would perform the test there, but that specimen collection would occur right there in the doctor's office, and we have a network of couriers that would facilitate that.

Gray: What does that mean, a network of couriers?

Pandori: A network of people who can retrieve the specimen from the doctor's office and take it to the state public health lab in a car, for example.

Gray: And that's where you come in.

Pandori: Correct. The Southern health district has a laboratory in Clark County that would serve Clark County. The state public health lab here at the University of Nevada School of Medicine campus is the public health lab for the entire state of Nevada. But there is testing available in Clark County.

Gray: So basically, people get swabbed at a clinician's office. If the test comes back negative for other types of illnesses and the clinician decides maybe we need to see if this is coronavirus, a courier will come take the specimen to your lab. Your lab will analyze it. How long does it take to get the results? And what will that trigger once you get that information?

Pandori: When the lab receives the specimen, so that's brought to our laboratory, it would take our lab between three and four hours to generate a result as to whether or not the coronavirus 2019 is present or not in that specimen.

If it was negative, we would share that result with the clinician and with public health. If it was positive, we would also share that result with the clinician, who ordered the test, and with public health officials. If it was positive, we would then send that specimen to CDC to confirm it.

Gray: Have you ever seen anything like this before?

Pandori: Yes. This shares many of the same dimensions, in different ways, and I don't mean to minimize this, I don't mean to say we've seen this all before because you'd never take an attitude like that for something this serious. But in terms of the kind of virus that it is and how it spreads, in 2009, you may recall we had what was initially called swine influenza, now known as the pandemic H1N1 strain. And that's actually become a normal strain in the community of influenza, but at first, you may recall that we were dealing with what we thought were very high death rates from that strain of influenza. We saw that it started in another country, and then it spread, and then we started to see cases in community spread here in the United States. In that regard, it's almost identical, for all the features that I just laid out to that 2009 thing that we dealt with.

But in many ways also, it's similar to Ebola, which we had a few years ago. With that, we had, again, something that started in another country. It started to be seen in other countries throughout the world, and the death rate is very high, much higher for Ebola, I have to say parenthetically. In those two instances, we were dealing with something similar in terms of scope and in terms of dynamics.