CARSON CITY (KTNV) — The Nevada COVID-19 Mitigation and Management Task Force met with eight counties flagged for having an elevated risk of transmission of COVID-19 on Thursday.
CORONAVIRUS: Nevada reports more than 1,400 new cases, 14.3% positivity rate
The team shared the following updates:
Carson City
Assessment Summary:
- Carson City reported the number of confirmed and suspected COVID-19 patients that have been hospitalized at Carson Tahoe Hospital has doubled in the last two weeks.
- As of Nov. 3, all elective surgeries at the hospital have been canceled.
- The hospital has re-opened the state disaster medical facility tent for triaging emergency department patients.
- Carson City continues to offer daily testing at the health department.
- For the week of Nov. 1-7, 279 tests were administered.
- In the month of October, there were four community-based testing events that yielded 970 tests.
- Carson City’s contact tracing and case investigation efforts have accounted for 52% of positive cases.
- The health department continues to work closely with the school on contact tracing efforts. The transmission in schools has remained relatively low.
- Carson City has been monitoring and addressing complaints regarding enforcement through their hotline and Facebook page.
- PPE and sanitation supplies remain in good condition.
Approved Action Plan:
- Carson City has been focusing on community education on a variety of COVID topics to include:
- Banner across Carson Street that encourages wearing of masks.
- Engaged the Latino Leader Academy at Western Nevada College for translation of a PSA.
- Press release and PSAs about the Governor’s Stay at Home 2.0 message.
- Carson City has taken several actions that impact City operations including:
- Reducing in-person department and city staff.
- Canceling all community events for the next two weeks.
- Limiting attendance for board and commission meetings.
- Not approving street closures for large events.
- Reviewing special event permits in accordance with COVID guidance and evaluating event plans.
- Testing averages are not an issue, but Carson City is researching reporting turnaround times.
- The Task Force approved Carson City’s plan with two modifications.
- Carson City must adopt a decision-making guide and event planning metrics for determining conditions for larger events.
- The enforcement component must also be built out with a comprehensive and coordinated approach that incorporates elements that drive the enforcement model.
Clark County
Assessment Summary:
- As of Nov. 9, Clark County had a case rate per 100,000 of 701 and a test positivity rate of 11.1%.
- Clark County reports their access to PPE is steady. Testing capacity, case investigation and contact tracing and efforts to protect vulnerable populations have also been sufficient.
- Clark County will continue to increase enforcement and compliance from businesses.
Approved Action Plan:
- The Task force approved Clark County’s plan with one modification. The plan expands from last week’s approved mitigation plan with a focus on surge testing, hospital capacity, business license and enforcement.
- Clark County opened an additional Community Based Collection Site at Texas Station, and the City of Henderson, City of Mesquite and City of Boulder City will also provide additional community-based testing.
- Clark County has increased communication and promotion of the COVID Trace app.
- A link to the state’s COVID Trace app has been placed on the main page of SNHD’s website.
- SNHD’s outreach team has been distributing COVID Trace app flyers in conjunction with community flu clinic information.
- The added modification is that next weeks’ updated plan will also include the Southern Nevada Health District’s plan and methodology on approval or reduction on large gatherings and events, given the current spread and infection rates.
Elko County
Assessment Summary:
- Elko reports a 54% increase in confirmed cases in the month of October and attributed the increase to community spread and clusters among families and friends.
- Elko continued to report that lengthy test reporting times has been one of the factors leading to the upward trend in cases and is working with county resources to build better testing capacity within the county.
- The hospital infrastructure is in good condition
Approved Action Plan:
- The Task Force approved Elko County’s plan up to the action plan portion requiring more detailed enforcement piece within the plan.
Humboldt County
Assessment Summary:
- Humboldt County reported a total of 215 cases, as of Nov. 10, of those, 33 are active.
- Humboldt County has seen the highest positivity rates, to date.
- Hospital and PPE status for the County is good.
Approved Action Plan:
- Humboldt County is no longer flagged for elevated risk. The Task Force approved Humboldt County’s plan as submitted with one addition.
- The County’s plan focuses on community education, as most of the spread is occurring from family gatherings.
- The addition requires the County to provide a detailed plan regarding enforcement.
Lincoln County
Assessment Summary:
- Lincoln County reported no reduction in hospital capacity due to COVID-19.
- Access to PPE is adequate and manageable, currently.
- Lincoln County has increased testing and testing transport.
- Case investigation and contact tracing has been performed by the county health officer sufficiently. Efforts have been successful, and the sources have been able to be identified to minimize spread.
Action Plan:
- Lincoln County’s plan was approved, as presented, with the caveat of including additional mitigation measures that come out of the internal county meeting.
Lyon County
Assessment Summary:
· Lyon County has seen an increase in positivity rates each week. The largest trends are from family to family contact and retail.
Approved Action Plan:
- The Task force approved Lyon County’s plan as submitted but requested to have additional information from OSHA and B&I be included in the next report.
Nye County
Assessment Summary:
- Nye County had a large influx of cases on Nov. 5 and it is too early to tell if the trend will go downward from there or continuing to rise. Detention center spike and skilled nursing home spike.
- Nye County is working on creating additional public messaging surrounding the upcoming holidays as well as the Governor’s remarks from his earlier press conference.
Action Plan:
- The Task Force approved Nye County’s plan as submitted and will continue to monitor the high numbers of cases at the Federal facilities with the high number of cases discovered.
Washoe County
Assessment Summary:
- COVID-19 continues to be widespread in Washoe County and the spread continues to be mostly occurring through community transmission.
- As of Nov. 9, the 7-day rolling average of new daily cases in Washoe County was 335, a 79% increase in new cases from Nov. 3 and a 341% increase from Oct. 1.
- Washoe County’s test positivity rate has increased over the past week from 10.8% to 12.8%. Tests have also been increasing in that time period.
- Washoe County continues to see significant increase in numbers of cases occurring in the 30-59-year-old age range, in addition to the 20-29-year-old ranges in the last several weeks.
- Licensed ICU beds in Washoe County hospital occupancy rates are 66% and 57% respectively for general hospital and intensive care units.
Action Plan Updates:
- The Task Force approved the current plan.
- The City of Reno has expanded their efforts in public outreach.
- IC Media Strategies was hired to assist with pandemic communications to Reno’s Hispanic population and to develop a paid communications strategy to amplify the messaging from the “Mask On Move On” campaign within Reno’s Spanish speaking community.
- UNR Journalism School will develop a grassroots outreach campaign for students that encourages social distancing and discourages participation in off campus gatherings.
