Novel Coronavirus | KUNR

Novel Coronavirus

Trump Touts Coronavirus Vaccine Progress As Cases Climb

By • Nov 13, 2020

Updated at 5:16 p.m. ET

President Trump says an emergency use authorization for Pfizer's promising new COVID-19 vaccine will come "extremely soon," delivering his first public remarks since Joe Biden was declared the winner of the presidential election last Saturday.

"Right away, millions of doses will soon be going out the door" after final approval arrives, Trump said, giving an update on his administration's efforts to accelerate coronavirus vaccine development and distribution.

Renown Reopens Emergency COVID-19 Care Facility In Parking Garage

By • Nov 13, 2020
Two rows of beds with beige blankets and covered in plastic. A sign above the area reads, “Parking. Upper Levels” with an arrow pointing to the right. There is also the letter “G.”
Lucia Starbuck / KUNR Public Radio

Update, published Friday, Nov. 13, at 5:52 p.m. PT.

Several COVID-19 patients are already receiving treatment at the Renown alternative care site located in the hospital’s parking garage. Amid the surge in cases, the site opened up earlier this week to keep hospital beds available for other medical emergencies.

California Is 2nd State To Surpass 1 Million Coronavirus Cases

By • Nov 13, 2020

California has reached more than 1 million confirmed coronavirus cases, becoming only the second state to reach the bleak milestone since the start of the pandemic.

The most populous state in the country crossed the million mark on Thursday, according to data collected by Johns Hopkins University.

Nevada espera una vacuna contra la COVID-19 a principios de diciembre

By • Nov 12, 2020
Una ilustración de múltiples personas con mascarillas.
Angelina Bambina / Adobe Stock

Read in English.

El grupo de trabajo COVID-19 de Nevada compartió más detalles el jueves 5 de noviembre sobre el plan del estado para implementar una vacuna. El Departamento de Salud y Servicios Humanos planea distribuirla en tres fases.

With COVID-19 Vaccine Hopes High, Obstacles Remain For Rural Areas

By • Nov 12, 2020
A syringe needle filling with a vaccine
Weyo / Adobe Stock

The news of a promising COVID-19 vaccine from pharmaceutical giant Pfizer and the German company BioNTech is generating optimism this week.

But in the Mountain West, there will be significant challenges in storing and distributing this type of vaccine in rural areas.

Officials Wrestle With Surge Of COVID-19 Cases, Sisolak Reiterates Plea To Wear Masks

By • Nov 10, 2020
A close up and side profile of an older man’s face. He’s touching the bottom of his blue surgical mask. He is wearing a silver wedding ring.
David Calvert / Nevada Independent

As Nevada experiences a surge of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, Gov. Steve Sisolak and City of Reno officials are doubling down on their public health messaging. And as KUNR’s Lucia Starbuck reports, officials are wrestling with how to control the spread of infections.

Novel Coronavirus In Nevada: Nov. 4-10, 2020

By , , , , & • Nov 10, 2020

5:14 p.m. | November 10, 2020

Washoe County Reports Four COVID-19-Related Deaths, Testing Only Available For Symptomatic Residents
By Lucia Starbuck

Washoe County reported four COVID-19-related deaths today, including four men, one in his 70s, two in their 80s and one in his 90s. Officials also reported 263 new cases of COVID-19 and 265 recoveries.

Reno 1868 FC Ceases Operation Due To Pandemic

By • Nov 9, 2020
Soccer players are kneeling in a semi-circle formation on a grassy field.
David Calvert

Lee en español.

Reno’s United Soccer League team, Reno 1868 FC, announced Friday it would cease operations following the 2020 season.

Nevada Expects A COVID-19 Vaccine In Early December

By • Nov 6, 2020
Illustration of a series of people in rows. Each person is wearing a face mask.
Angelina Bambina / Adobe Stock

Lee en español.

Nevada’s COVID-19 Task Force shared more details Thursday about the state’s plan to roll out a vaccine. The Department of Health and Human Services plans to distribute a COVID-19 vaccine in three phases.

Novel Coronavirus In Nevada: Oct. 28-Nov. 3, 2020

By , , , , & • Nov 4, 2020

5:17 p.m. | November 3, 2020

Washoe County Report
By Jayden Perez

Washoe County reported almost 250 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday. Health officials are also reporting just over 100 recoveries. There are now over 2,400 active cases and over 14,100 total cases of COVID-19 in Washoe County.

Trump Rallies For Nevada Votes In Arizona, Even As COVID-19 Counts Spike

By • Oct 29, 2020
President Trump standing at a podium during a rally in Bullhead, Arizona.
Still image from CSPAN video / CSPAN

President Donald Trump is finding ways to continue reaching voters in Nevada through rallies, even as COVID-19 cases climb and state restrictions limit crowds.

DNC Blasts Trump Administration As Pence Visits Reno

By • Oct 29, 2020
Three men wearing masks. The two men on the left are looking off camera. The man on the right is wearing a suit and looking at the camera.
Lucia Starbuck / KUNR Public Radio

Democrats are criticizing Vice President Mike Pence for holding a campaign event while COVID-19 cases are surging in Washoe County.

Governor Steve Sisolak Holds Press Conference In Response To Rising Number Of COVID-19 Cases

By • Oct 29, 2020
Governor Steve Sisolak sits at a table with a sign language interpreter behind him.
Screenshot / Nevada State Legislature via YouTube

In Nevada, 8 out of 17 counties are flagged as having an elevated risk of COVID-19 transmission. Washoe County in particular has had an elevated risk for the past five weeks, longer than any other county. 

Hospitals Around The Mountain West Reach COVID-19 Breaking Point

By • Oct 29, 2020

Utah has a number of major medical facilities that often take patients from all over the Mountain West. But the state is nearing a breaking point: too many COVID-19 patients and not enough resources. That crisis in care could have a domino effect around the region.


Pandemic Puts Teletherapy To The Test — Reviews Are Mixed

By • Oct 28, 2020

Logan Potter is a senior at Boise State University. Like many others, the pandemic affected her mental health.

"I was struggling quite a bit, so I was like, 'I need to go to therapy,'" she said.


Novel Coronavirus In Nevada: Oct. 21-27, 2020

By , , , , & • Oct 27, 2020

5:50 p.m. | October 27, 2020

Nevada Task Force, Washoe County To Meet After Virus Surge
By Lucia Starbuck

The Nevada coronavirus task force has called an emergency meeting with the Washoe County Health District to address the county's plan to manage an increasing surge in confirmed coronavirus cases. 

Nevada Researchers Suggest The Virus That Causes COVID-19 Is Mutating Quickly

By Brooke Hess • Oct 27, 2020
Scientists in a UNR lab working on SARS-CoV-2 research.
Brin Reynolds

As COVID-19 deaths surpass 225,000 in the United States, UNR researchers have found some clues as to why the virus that causes COVID-19 is so contagious — and they’re discovering that it is mutating quickly. The researchers have studied the genetics of more than 8,650 samples of the virus SARS-CoV-2, collected from infected people all over Nevada.

Pandemic Puts Sugar Beet Farmers In A Pinch

By • Oct 27, 2020
A field of sugar beets ready for harvesting
Matauw / Adobe Stock

The sugar beet harvest is underway across the Mountain West.

It’s a big industry that depends on accurate weather forecasts and a reliable workforce – both impacted by COVID-19. 

Novel Coronavirus In Nevada: Oct. 14-20, 2020

By , , , , & • Oct 21, 2020

3:57 p.m. | October 20, 2020

Washoe County Reports 143 New Cases Of COVID-19
By Lucia Starbuck

Washoe County is reporting 143 new COVID-19 cases today and 51 recoveries. There are 1,526 active cases of COVID-19, the highest the county has seen. 

Sisolak Says New COVID-19 Cases And Hospitalizations Upward Trend Is 'Alarming'

By • Oct 20, 2020
An older man behind a podium is wearing a blue surgical mask. He is pointing to his mask.
Benjamin Hager / Las Vegas Review-Journal

Nevada is beginning to see an alarming upward trend of new COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations. Gov. Steve Sisolak held a brief press conference to provide an update on the current status of the virus in Nevada.

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