Nevada reports 3,194 COVID-19 cases

Nevada shattered four coronavirus-related records on Saturday: the highest number of new cases reported in a single day, total deaths in one week, the number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 and the positivity rate.

The 3,194 new cases marked a substantial jump in the moving seven-day average of reported cases, which previously stood at 2,343. It was also the second time more than 3,000 cases were recorded in a single day, according to the Department of Health and Human Services.

Twenty-nine new fatalities also were reported Saturday, marking the deadliest week in Nevada to date with a total of 182 COVID-19 fatalities since last Sunday. The updated data brought totals in the state to 165,628 cases and 2,301 deaths.

“Unfortunately, today’s count and the increase in the positivity rate are in keeping with the trends we have been seeing,” Jennifer Sizemore, a spokeswoman for the Southern Nevada Health District, said in an emailed statement Saturday.

Gov. Steve Sisolak took to social media imploring Nevadans to stay vigilant and not “let our guard down against the virus.”

“As cases & positivity rates rise, we must all take steps & do our part to slow this spread,” he said. “Stay home as much as possible, wear your mask & avoid crowds.”

Las Vegas resident J.D. Clements said he goes out only when absolutely necessary and has practiced social distancing throughout the pandemic, but sees far too many people who don’t.

“That’s why the spike is up, because everybody is just doing whatever they want,” Clements said as he returned to his car after buying groceries.

UNLV epidemiologist Brian Labus said the recent spikes in coronavirus statistics are likely to get worse before they get better, especially because the data is still reflecting infections that happened before Thanksgiving.

“We will not see that for at least another week,” he said about the expected increases caused by last week’s holiday. “The way that things are going and all the travel and everything, it is not a surprise to see these high numbers.”

Labus, who is a member of the governor’s medical advisory team on COVID-19, said that “COVID fatigue” is likely to get worse as the Christmas season approaches.

“I think you’re balancing your COVID fatigue with the stress of the holidays,” he said. “We have people who don’t want to think COVID, they want to think Christmas.”

The two-week positivity rate calculated by the health district surpassed 20 percent for the first time, reaching 20.6 percent. It’s the highest the rate has been since the state started reporting the statistic in mid-October.

The state’s positivity rate, calculated by the Review-Journal as the number of cumulative cases divided by people tested since the pandemic began, reached 16.32 percent on Saturday, a 0.2-percentage-point increase from the previous day.

The number of people hospitalized with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 cases increased by more than 100 on Saturday, reaching 1,789 — another record high.

The Nevada Hospital Association this week reported that coronavirus cases are taking a toll on hospital capacity limits.

NEVADANS: Today, we recorded a record high 14-day positivity rate of 20.6% & a record high of 3,194 new cases identified.

As cases & positivity rates rise, we must all take steps & do our part to slow this spread. Stay home as much as possible, wear your mask & avoid crowds pic.twitter.com/gPbj0DTx4n

— Governor Sisolak (@GovSisolak) December 5, 2020

Las Vegas resident James Dennis on Saturday echoed the “COVID fatigue” that state officials have been warning about for weeks.

“I think it’s more deadly to get in your car than to catch the coronavirus,” Dennis said while loading groceries into his truck in the west valley on Saturday afternoon.

In Henderson, several residents said they’re being stricter than ever with personal protocols, including wearing masks and avoiding large crowds.

“I’m just following the rules. I work from home so I’m not going out too much,” said Andee Fawell, 34.

Fawell said it has been unfortunate watching small businesses close because a high number of cases means more restrictions.

Construction worker Jonathan Welinski, 40, said he doesn’t even notice the mask on his face anymore, but some of his co-workers are getting tired.

Danyl Garnett, 44, said that since returning to work as a hairstylist, she also has gotten more used to wearing her mask daily. The salon she works at requires customers to keep their masks on while inside.

“That makes me feel safer,” she said of the salon’s policy.

Contact Katelyn Newberg at knewberg@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0240. Follow @k_newberg on Twitter. Review-Journal reporter Sabrina Schnur contributed to this report.