Clark County reports 5 new deaths as Nevada COVID-19 cases hit 1,279

The number of COVID-19 deaths in Clark County increased by five on Wednesday, bringing the total in the county to 28 and the statewide toll to 32.

Meanwhile, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Nevada jumped to 1,279 on Wednesday, up more than 160 from the previous day. The day-to-day increase of 166 in the number of cases was the second-highest since the first COVID-19 cases were reported in the state on March 5, trailing only the increase of 182 from Friday to Saturday, according to state data.

The number of confirmed cases of the disease caused by the new coronavirus was derived from tests on 12,798 people and represents an infection rate of approximately 10 percent among those tested. That rate is likely elevated, however, because of an ongoing shortage of testing kits that often results in only the sickest patients or those who have had close contact with someone diagnosed with COVID-19 being tested.

The increase in the state totals was reflected in an update by the Southern Nevada Health District early Wednesday, which showed 961 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the county, up from 869 on Tuesday.

The district did not report any details on the new cases or provide an updated number of negative tests.

In other developments Wednesday:

■ The Southern Nevada Health District reported that one of its employees has tested positive for COVID-19, the first confirmed case within the agency. The employee, who developed symptoms over the weekend, is self-isolating. The health district said the worker had limited interaction with patients in a clinical setting; those patients and the employee’s close contacts are being notified of potential exposure.

■ The Washoe County Health District announced a fourth death in the county, that of a man in his 40s with underlying health conditions.

■ The Clark County School District reported that a member of its Transportation Department had been diagnosed with COVID-19. It said no buses or buildings were believed to be at risk based on when the employee contracted the disease.

■ Officials in Nye County announced a new COVID-19 case in Pahrump. It was the sixth case reported in the county following three cases in Pahrump and one apiece in Beatty and Amargosa Valley. Two of those patients have recovered, according to the county, one of the few in the state to provide that information.

■ Carson City Health and Human Services reported four new cases in the Quad County region comprised of Carson City, Douglas, Lyon, and Storey counties. It said the victims were a Carson City man in his 50s; an 18-year-old male Carson City resident with close contact to a confirmed case; a female Carson City resident in her 40s; and a female Lyon County resident in her 70s, all of whom were said to be stable and self-isolating in their homes. The cases brought the total number reported in the region to 16.

■ Humboldt County reported two new cases — a man in his 70s and a woman in her 60s — bringing its total to seven.

Contact Mike Brunker at mbrunker@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-4656. Follow @mike_brunker on Twitter.