LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — Nevada is in the coronavirus “red zone,” according to the White House, while the state continues to see record-setting COVID-19 cases in July. Including more than 1,400 on Thursday.
Nevada is currently higher than the national average for new coronavirus cases per 100,000 residents.
New report names Nevada as 1 of 11 states in 'red zone' for COVID-19
The White House is calling the situation “concerning,” with recommending closures of gyms, bars, nightclubs, limiting social gatherings to no more than ten people, and encouraging outdoor dining for restaurants.
Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak has already shut down bars (again), and Southern Nevada health leaders say they are watching the situation.
Hospital visits are on the rise connected to COVID-19, and more tests are being conducted. But leaders are finding, of those tests, that more people are coming back positive.
"A larger proportion of people who are tested today are being reported as positive, which is different than the month of May or April. So, really it means there is an increased transmission of the virus in our community," said Dr. Fermin Leguen, acting chief health officer at the Southern Nevada Health District.
13 Action News has been informed that hospital bed capacity is currently in good shape, but that some of those beds are being taken up from out-of-state patients.
Also, Dr. Mark Pandori, director of the Nevada State Public Health Laboratory, says there are five versions of COVID-19 circulating in Nevada.
"Every version of coronavirus we see on the planet... some member of that family is circulating in Nevada. We don't know why we have such a high diversity in the state."
Additionally, state health data shows at least 123 visitors to Nevada tested positive for coronavirus while visiting in recent weeks or shortly after returning home.
At least 123 visitors to Nevada tested positive for virus
The Department of Health and Human Services data shows 16 visitors tested positive for the virus in Nevada the week casinos reopened in early June.
And since then, Californians have accounted for 46% of Nevada visitors to test positive for coronavirus while in the state or shortly after returning home.
