Nevada adds 548 new COVID-19 cases, 2 deaths as positivity rate dips

Nevada public health officials on Monday reported the state’s lowest coronavirus test positivity rate since late November.

The 14-day positivity rate, a key indicator monitored by public health officials, was reported at 15.5 percent.

The last time the rate was that low was on Nov. 22. The positivity rate has been steadily decreasing since peaking at 21.7 percent on Jan. 13.

Still, the rate is not where health officials want it.

Caleb Cage, the state’s coronavirus response director, has said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention wants positivity rates to be below 10 percent and closer to 5 percent.

Health officials on Monday also reported 548 new coronavirus cases and two additional deaths.

Updated figures from the state Department of Health and Human Services posted on the state’s COVID-19 website brought statewide totals to 284,590 cases and 4,522 deaths.

New cases fell below the two-week moving average of 756 cases per day. The state averaged 15 deaths per day for the same period.

Health officials say reporting over weekends can result in lower-than-average figures on Mondays. State experts often adjust the data later to better reflect the onset of illness or the date of death, so daily reports often don’t match the final totals for a given date.

Data guide: COVID-19’s impact on Nevada

Transmission of the coronavirus has been decreasing for several weeks, but the state is just now starting to see fewer people hospitalized than the previous peak last summer.

As of Monday’s report, 964 patients with either confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19 were hospitalized in Nevada, a decrease of 34 patients from the previous day.

In Southern Nevada, 83 percent of licensed hospital beds and 70 percent of intensive care beds were occupied as of Sunday, according to a report from the Nevada Hospital Association.

Meanwhile, Clark County reported 444 new cases and one additional death, bringing county totals to 219,183 cases and 3,474 deaths.

The 14-day moving average positivity rate for the county stood at 17.1 percent.

The county numbers are included in the statewide totals.

Contact Blake Apgar at bapgar@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-5298. Follow @blakeapgar on Twitter.