Editor’s Note: KUNR is no longer updating this blog series as of Wednesday, May 26. For the most current information about the novel coronavirus in Nevada, in addition to local news headlines, visit KUNR Today.
Novel Coronavirus In Nevada: Monday, May 24, 2021
5:45 p.m. | May 24, 2021
COVID-19 Cases And Test Positivity Rate Continue To Decrease In Nevada
By Lucia Starbuck
COVID-19 cases are continuing to decrease in Nevada.
Officials are reporting an average of 161 daily cases over the last two weeks, along with two deaths per day during that same time period. Daily cases have steadily decreased since the start of the month.
The state’s test positivity rate, which is the percentage of COVID-19 test results returning positive, is currently 4.5%. That rate has decreased from almost 6% in late April.
Learn more about COVID-19 vaccinations in Nevada, or view the state and Washoe County COVID-19 dashboards.
Lucia Starbuck is a corps member for Report for America, an initiative of the GroundTruth Project.
UNR Innevation Center To Host Vaccine Clinic And Information Session
By Isaac Hoops
The University of Nevada, Reno’s Innevation Center is hosting a walk-in COVID-19 vaccine clinic along with an information session regarding the vaccine. Medical providers, along with community health workers, will be present to answer questions regardless if an individual receives the vaccine or not.
The clinic will be open Thursday, May 27, from 3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Novel Coronavirus In Nevada: Tuesday, May 18, 2021
5:34 p.m. | May 18, 2021
WCSD Superintendent Defends District’s Decision To Drop Mask Requirements For Youngest Students
By Lucia Starbuck
Washoe County School District officials are defending a decision to drop mask requirements for young students.
District officials announced earlier this week students 9 and younger no longer need to wear masks; however, educators and staff said the guidance they have received from the district is unclear.
Speaking to reporters earlier this week, Superintendent Kristen McNeill said the decision to drop mask requirements was driven by the district’s high vaccination rate among employees.
“We were able to work with our health district and get our employees vaccinated around that. And so, the circumstances have changed dramatically, as I’m sure that you understand, from the beginning of March 2020, when schools went into shutdown, to where we are now. And that’s a good thing, that things are on a positive trend,” McNeill said.
Officially, students under 9 years old no longer need to wear a mask indoors or outdoors, but they are still required to wear one on busses. All other students and staff in the district are required to wear facial coverings, except at recess, lunch or PE.
The CDC recommends that all students continue wearing facial coverings for at least the remainder of this school year.
Renown Expands Visitor Policy, Patients Permitted Two Visitors At A Time
By Lucia Starbuck
Patients admitted to Renown Hospital can now have more than one visitor per day. Renown announced the updated visitation policy Tuesday.
While patients are limited to two visitors at a time, the new rule eliminates the daily cap on visitors. The limits were originally put into place to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus.
In a statement, hospital officials said the decision was based on high levels of staff vaccinations and declining COVID-19 hospitalizations.
Elko Hospital Allows Visitors Again After Influx Of COVID-19 Patients In Early May
By Lucia Starbuck
Elko’s Northeastern Nevada Regional Hospital is allowing visitors again after an influx of COVID-19 hospitalizations. In a statement, hospital officials said patients are now permitted one visitor per day. They must be at least 14 years old and pass a screening before entering.
Nine people were hospitalized for COVID-19 in Elko County earlier this month. According to the state’s dashboard, there is now one person hospitalized for the virus as of Monday.
See Northeastern Nevada Regional Hospital’s visitation policy.
Elko County’s COVID-19 Vaccination Rate Is Low While Test Positivity Rate Is High
By Lucia Starbuck
Elko County’s vaccination rate is lagging behind the rest of the state.
The latest data from the state show less than a quarter of the county’s residents 12 and older are fully vaccinated. For comparison, more than 36% of the state’s residents 12 and older are fully vaccinated. Elko County has also maintained a relatively high COVID-19 test positivity rate of nearly 12%.
Despite the county’s relatively high COVID-19 metrics, many of the area’s businesses have returned to full capacity.
Learn more about COVID-19 vaccinations in Nevada, or view the state and Washoe County COVID-19 dashboards.
Lucia Starbuck is a corps member for Report for America, an initiative of the GroundTruth Project.
Novel Coronavirus In Nevada: Monday, May 17, 2021
5:46 p.m. | May 17, 2021
Average Daily COVID-19 Cases Below 200 In Nevada
By Lucia Starbuck
Daily COVID-19 cases have dipped below 200 per day in Nevada, according to the state’s dashboard.
Over the last two weeks, there have been an average of 193 cases per day statewide, along with two deaths per day. Nevada’s test positivity rate, or the percentage of tests returning positive, is now 5%. It has decreased from 5.9% in late April.
The state began vaccinating Nevadans 12 and older last week. According to the state’s dashboard, more than 45% of Nevadans 12 and older have received their first COVID-19 vaccine, and more than 36% have completed vaccination. In Washoe County, more than half of residents 12 and older have received their first shot.
Learn more about COVID-19 vaccinations in Nevada, or view the state and Washoe County COVID-19 dashboards.
Lucia Starbuck is a corps member for Report for America, an initiative of the GroundTruth Project.
California Won't Lift Its Mask Requirement For Another Month
By The Associated Press
California won't lift its mask requirement until June 15 to give the public time to prepare and to ensure cases stay low. State health director Dr. Mark Ghaly said Monday that a four-week delay will allow businesses time to make adjustments and the state to get more people vaccinated. Many other states lifted mask requirements last week after the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said it's safe for fully vaccinated people to skip face coverings and social distancing in most situations. California Gov. Gavin Newsom has said that if cases remain low, the state will drop nearly all coronavirus restrictions on June 15.
Novel Coronavirus In Nevada: Thursday, May 13, 2021
6:00 p.m. | May 13, 2021
NEW CDC Guidelines Drop Mask Mandate For Vaccinated In Nevada
By Paul Boger
Fully vaccinated residents in Nevada no longer have to wear a mask indoors.The news follows the latest guidance from the Centers for Disease Control who dropped mask recommendations for the fully vaccinated, Thursday.
Nevada tied its coronavirus regulations to the CDC earlier this month when the state handed mitigation efforts to local leaders.
California health officials say they expect to drop their mask mandate next month.
Teens 12 And Up Eligible For COVID Vaccine In Washoe County
By Paul Boger
Children 12 and older are now eligible for the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine in Washoe County.
County health officials made the announcement Thursday following the Food and Drug Administration's decision to extend the vaccine's emergency approval to teens.
Vaccinations will continue to be given at the Livestock Events Center in Reno.
Walk-ins are welcome, but residents are encouraged to make an appointment in order to speed up the process.
Get Caught Up:
May 12, 2021 | Regional Updates
- Head Of Washoe County Health District Supports Vaccine Requirements For Students
- More Than 2 Million COVID-19 Shots Administered In Nevada
- More than 150,000 Washoe County Residents Fully Vaccinated
- Renown Health To Close Its Drive-Thru COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic
- Pandemic Creates Obstacles For Getting Cancer Screenings
For continued updates on the novel coronavirus in Nevada, visit our related stories page.
