Clark County records largest single-day increase in COVID-19 cases

Clark County on Tuesday announced its largest single-day increase of newly identified COVID-19 cases since the state’s outbreak began in March.

The county also reported its first death of a child infected with the respiratory disease on Monday.

The Southern Nevada Health District identified 342 new cases in Clark County and estimated an additional 188 more infected people had recovered. The previous high was 242 new cases announced Saturday, according to data posted on the health district’s website and updated daily.

The uptick also marks the largest increase of new cases in the state of Nevada in a single day. The cumulative test positivity rate statewide rose by 0.6 percentage points, only the second time it has increased since early May.

Nevada’s hospital capacity remains far from full, the Nevada Hospital Association reported Tuesday afternoon. Less than 70 percent of the state’s staffed hospital and intensive-care beds were filled.

A state health official attributed some of the increase in cases Tuesday to delayed reporting from the weekend, but she also acknowledged a continued upward trend of new cases over the past three weeks.

Medical experts continue to assess the data on a daily basis.

“The State had the expectation that as a result of reopening and an increase in testing, our positive cases were likely to increase,” Nevada Department of Health and Human Services spokeswoman Shannon Litz wrote in an email. “We continue to encourage all Nevadans to maintain good hand hygiene, wear a face covering in public and observe 6 feet of social distance with those who are not in your household.”

Tuesday also marked the county’s highest seven-day average of new cases: 194.

The record number of new cases coincided with one of the biggest days of testing in Clark County. About 5,600 tests were administered, according to state data.

A total of 9,157 cases of COVID-19, a respiratory disease caused by the coronavirus, have been identified among county residents. About 19 percent of those infected were hospitalized at some point of their illness.

More than 6,800 infected county residents are believed to have recovered.

The county also reported the death of a patient on Monday, raising the countywide total to 380. The person was between 5 and 17 years old, according to the county.

Across Nevada, more than 11,600 people have contracted the disease. At least 467 have died, and more than 8,400 are believed to have recovered.

The number of currently hospitalized patients known and suspected to have COVID-19 remained relatively low, according to state data. There were 349 inpatients as of Monday, compared to a high of 711 on April 8.

Contact Michael Scott Davidson at sdavidson@reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3861. Follow @DavidsonLVRJ on Twitter.

Editor’s Note: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated when Clark County reported its first death of a child infected with COVID-19. It was reported by the county on Monday.A previous version incorrectly stated when Clark County reported its second-most new cases of COVID-19. It was on Saturday.