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Novel Coronavirus In Nevada: Apr. 20-27, 2021

An illustration of an ultrastructural morphology exhibited by coronaviruses.
Alissa Eckert, MS; Dan Higgins, MAM
/
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Novel Coronavirus In Nevada: Tuesday, April 27, 2021

5:45 p.m. | April 27, 2021

Washoe County School District To Spend Up To $3 Million For Summer School
By KUNR Staff

The Washoe County School District is gearing up for a massive summer school program.

The Reno Gazette-Journal reports the district plans to spend up to $3 million in federal COVID-19 relief funds on the program.

Summer school is available free to all K-12 students in Washoe County.

Classes will run from late-June to mid-July, for about half-a-day, three days a week.

The enrollment deadline is May 7. Learn more here.

Carson City School District To Keep Current School Schedule
By Lucia Starbuck

The Carson City School Board has voted to stick to its existing schedule for the rest of the school year.

The board considered bringing students back full-time, but decided against it. 

District leaders say overhauling the schedule for the last month of the school year was not worth the upheaval it would cause. 

Pre-K through eighth grade students attend class in-person four days a week, while high school students are on a hybrid schedule. 

Students may receive special consideration if they need in person instruction for social or emotional reasons, or if they need credit recovery for graduation or advancement. 

Most Libraries in Washoe County To Reopen May 3
By Lucia Starbuck

Most libraries in the Washoe County Library System will, once again, allow patrons to browse books and access computers in person, starting Monday, May 3.

All visitors over the age of two are required to wear masks. And due to limited capacity, library goers are asked to make visits as brief as possible, for no longer than an hour.

The Senior Center, Verdi, and Duncan/Traner Community Libraries will remain closed.

Nevada’s Gaming Revenue Shows Signs Of Recovery Statewide
By Lucia Starbuck

Nevada’s gaming revenue has clawed its way back to pre-pandemic levels.

Statewide, casinos reportedly took in more than $1 billion in March, the highest total since February 2020

Northern Nevada casinos, in particular, reported significant improvement in revenues compared to this time last year. 

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

Novel Coronavirus In Nevada: Monday, April 26, 2021

7:02 p.m. | April 26, 2021

Nevada Trying To Reverse Decline In Vaccinations Statewide
By The Associated Press

Nevada health officials are redoubling efforts to make it easier to get COVID-19 shots to try to reverse a decline in vaccinations statewide. They include new drive-thru clinics in working-class neighborhoods in Las Vegas and expanded outreach to Reno's Hispanic community. The 14-day rolling average in the number of vaccine doses administered on a daily basis in Nevada is down about 25% since April 15. It's the lowest average rate of daily vaccinations since mid-March and the first time it's dropped below 20,000 since March 20. Updated data is expected Monday.

Novel Coronavirus In Nevada: Friday, April 23, 2021

5:23 p.m. | April 23, 2021

Reno, Mexican Consulate Hold Vaccination Event For Latino Community
By Paul Boger

The consulate of Mexico in Las Vegas and the city of Reno are teaming up to host a vaccination event for the Latino community. 

The event will take place at the Evelyn Mount Northeast Community Center Saturday, from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm. 

Up to 1000 people over the age of 18 will get a shot. 

Local leaders say the vaccination event is part of an effort to encourage increased immunization within the area's Latino community.

Washoe County Opens Enrollment For Expanded Summer School
By Paul Boger

Washoe County parents interested in signing up their child for summer school have until Friday, April 30 to register. 

The Washoe County School District is expanding it's optional summer school program to help students who may have fallen behind academically during the pandemic. The program is free but requires registration. 

School officials estimate as many as a quarter of the district’s 64,000 students will attend summer school this year.

Novel Coronavirus In Nevada: Thursday, April 22, 2021

7:25 p.m. | April 22, 2021

Nevada COVID-19 Task Force Rejects Washoe County’s Reopening Plan
By Lucia Starbuck

Nevada’s COVID-19 task force has rejected Washoe County’s reopening plans after local leaders voiced concerns. 

County officials presented the reopening plan to the taskforce Thursday. It essentially calls for an end to all social distancing guidelines starting May 1.

However, the Washoe County Health District, the City of Reno and the Washoe County School District rejected the plan citing concerns over the county’s rising test-positivity rate. 

Commission Chair Bob Lucey says he feels comfortable dropping the guidelines due to the county’s growing vaccination rates.

“We feel that our vaccine protocols that have been moving forward have been very much effective. Our commission and our ability to provide testing still is adequately available for all citizens within the community,” Lucey said.

The state is expected to hand counties control of COVID-19 mitigation efforts on May 1.

Washoe County leaders say they will resubmit the plans.

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

Washoe County Test Positivity Rate At 7.1%
By Danna O'Connor

Health officials reported 40 additional COVID-19 cases in Washoe County Thursday, with 104 recoveries and no deaths.  

The total number of cases so far in the county is 45,060 and 688 people have died. 

The test positivity rate is at 7.1%

Carson City School District Board To Discuss Returning To Classroom Full Time By Early May
By Lucia Starbuck

The Carson City School Board is considering whether students should return to the classroom full-time. 

The board will discuss reopening plans for all students, pre-kindergarten through 12th grade during a special meeting on April 26. If approved, students could return to in-person instruction beginning May 3.

Novel Coronavirus In Nevada: Wednesday, April 21, 2021

5:13 p.m. | April 21, 2021

Washoe County Hits 45,000 Coronavirus Cases
By Paul Boger

Washoe County reported a new coronavirus-related milestone Wednesday. 

According to the health district, more than 45,000 people in Washoe County have contracted the coronavirus since the start of the pandemic. 

Nevada health officials reported eleven COVID-19 deaths and more than 400 new cases of the virus Wednesday. Both statistics were well above the state’s two-week rolling average for the second day in a row. 

Washoe County Businesses May Soon Open At Full Capacity
By Jayden Perez

Beginning May 1, Washoe County businesses will no longer have to follow capacity limits.

The new rule is part of a proposed COVID-19 mitigation plan approved by the Washoe County Commission yesterday. Under the proposal, businesses will still be asked to follow social distancing procedures, but pandemic-capacity limits will otherwise end. 

Organizers can begin submitting plans to the county for events larger than 500 people. And strip clubs and nightclubs would be allowed to reopen on June 1.

Washoe County’s plan still needs to be approved by a state task force. The statewide mask mandate will also remain in effect.

67 Additional U.K. COVID Variant Cases In Washoe County
By Jayden Perez

Washoe County has confirmed 67 new cases of the B-1-17 variant of COVID-19 in the past month.

The Washoe County Health District has identified 112 total cases of the so-called UK strain of the coronavirus since its last report. Health officials say most of the cases were spread through private gatherings and sporting events.

Get Caught Up:

April 20, 2021 | Regional Updates

  • Nevada Reports Above Average Number Of New Cases, Deaths
  • Sisolak Signs Reopening Directive
  • Bishop Manogue Moves To Distance Learning Amid COVID Outbreak
  • Nevada AG Warns Against Vaxx Card Scams
  • Vaccine Appointments Available To UNR Students
  • Washoe County Delays Reopening Plans
  • RTC Partners With Uber For Free Rides To Covid-19 Vaccine Appointments
  • State Of Nevada Releases Statement On Serious Reactions To Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine

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

Michelle Billman is a former news director at KUNR Public Radio.
Paul Boger is a former reporter at KUNR Public Radio.
Lucia Starbuck is an award-winning political journalist and the host of KUNR’s monthly show Purple Politics Nevada. She is passionate about reporting during election season, attending community events, and talking to people about the issues that matter most to them.
Jayden Perez is a former web producer and student reporter at KUNR Public Radio.
Isaac Hoops is a former student reporter at KUNR Public Radio.
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