Nevada matches highest single-day COVID death total since February

Nevada on Friday matched the highest single-day increase in coronavirus deaths in more than two months.

Updated figures from the Department of Health and Human Services showed 22 additional fatalities occurred over the preceding day. It was the biggest single-day increase in the state death toll since 37 fatalities were reported on Feb. 20, according to records maintained by the Review-Journal. There also were 22 deaths recorded on April 6.

All the deaths reported on Friday occurred in Clark County, according to updated figures posted to the Southern Nevada Health District’s coronavirus website.

The state also recorded 562 additional coronavirus cases on Friday.

Totals in Nevada rose to 312,840 cases and 5,422 deaths since the pandemic began.

Both the new cases and deaths remained well above their respective moving two-week averages. The average number of daily recorded cases during that time dropped slightly to 270, while the 14-day average of daily recorded deaths remained at three.

The state’s two-week positivity rate, which essentially tracks the percentage of people tested for COVID-19 who are found to be infected, remained at 5.8 percent on Friday. Clark County’s positivity rate also remained unchanged at 5.5 percent.

As of Friday’s report, there were 350 people in Nevada hospitalized with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 cases, two more than the previous day, state data shows.

There were 461 new coronavirus cases reported in Clark County, according to the county health district.

Cumulative totals in Clark County rose to 241,814 cases and 4,261 deaths.

Data guide: COVID-19’s impact on Nevada

Although state disease metrics decreased from mid-January through late March, they have been trending slightly higher in recent weeks. State officials have said the increase is “not necessarily unexpected or cause for concern” following the loosening of some health restrictions, such as capacity limits.

State and county health agencies often redistribute the daily data after it is reported to better reflect the date of death or onset of symptoms, which is why the moving-average trend lines frequently differ from daily reports and are considered better indicators of the direction of the outbreak.

On May 1 authority over major health precautions will be turned over from the state to Nevada counties. All but one — Washoe County — have completed plans to ensure they are ready for the transition, Caleb Cage, the state’s COVID-19 response director, said news briefing Friday.

Washoe County will resubmit it’s proposal after receiving required endorsements from its health district, school district, city managers and hospital association, Cage said.

“I am confident that (Nevada counties) now have the tools that they need to be successful in preventing the spread of COVID-19,” he said.

Contact Katelyn Newberg at knewberg@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0240. Follow @k_newberg on Twitter.