Nevada records 988 new COVID-19 cases, 5 more deaths
The state of Nevada recorded 988 new COVID-19 cases and five additional deaths over the preceding day, according to data posted Monday.
The new cases of the disease caused by the new coronavirus reported by the Department of Health and Human Services on its nvhealthresponse.nv.gov website pushed the case total for the state to 43,831. Reports from health districts and counties place the caseload slightly higher, with 43,874 cases reported as of Monday night.
The state death toll, meanwhile, rose to 739.
At a news conference Monday evening at which he extended bar closures in Clark County and three other counties, Gov. Steve Sisolak said the state continues to see high levels of new cases and deaths, but also cited recent signs of progress in reducing hospitalizations and cutting the virus’ rate of reproduction.
However, “The reality is … Nevada still has a heightened presence of COVID-19,” he said.
New cases were below the daily average of just over 1,011 over the preceding week, while fatalities were below the daily average of more than 12 over the period.
The state’s infection or positivity rate, considered a better indicator of the trend of the outbreak than new cases or deaths, continued to climb, registering its 18th straight daily gain to reach 9.88 percent.
The rate, the number of confirmed cases divided by the total number of people tested, declined over a period of more than two months before bottoming out at 5.20 percent on June 17. It has steadily increased since.
State data also showed hospitalizations down slightly from the high of 1,160 recorded on Thursday, with 1,112 confirmed and suspected cases as of Sunday.
The Nevada Hospital Association reported Monday that Clark County gained a total of 74 additional available beds over the preceding day, with discharges exceeding admissions by 239 to 165. Statewide the gain was 77 beds, it said.
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The Southern Nevada Health District, meanwhile, reported 899 new COVID-19 cases and five additional deaths.
The figures posted on the district’s coronavirus website brought the case total for the county to 37,492 and raised the death toll to 605. The district estimates that 28,803 of those who have contracted the disease have recovered.
New cases were above the daily average of just over 880 for the preceding week, while fatalities were below the daily average of more than seven during the period.
The health district reports daily case and death totals for the county, which also are included in the state’s tally, though not always on the same day.
The district also maintains a list of places where people can schedule a test for COVID-19.
Contact Mike Brunker at mbrunker@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-4656. Follow @mike_brunker on Twitter.