5 COVID-19-related deaths, a record 835 new COVID-19 cases reported

Health District Hotline:
775.328.2427

Follow us on Twitter:
Twitter.com/covid19washoe

Nov. 22, 2020. Reno/Sparks, NV – The Regional Information Center is reporting five COVID-19 related deaths in Washoe County: Two females in their 80s, a female in her 60s, a female in her 50s and a male in his 70s. All had an underlying health condition.

In addition, for the second day in a row there was a new record in COVID-19 cases reported in Washoe County; 835 were reported today (previous high was 817 yesterday) with 319 recoveries.

The seven-day moving average for new cases per day reached 483.4 (previous high was yesterday 443.4).

• Total COVID-19 cases in Washoe County: 22,010 (+835 from 11/21)
• Deaths: 241 (+5)
• Recovered: 14,314 (+319)
• Active cases: 7,455 (+511)
• Hospitalized with COVID-19*: 235 (+0)

*Data from Nevada Hospital Association (not updated on weekends) includes residents from outside of Washoe County.

COVID-19 tests performed in Washoe County

• Total number of COVID-19 tests performed in Washoe County as of November 22: 223,022 (+2,497 since 11/21)

Note: These figures are provided by the State of Nevada and can be found on the State Dashboard. COVID-19 tests may include non-Washoe County residents who were tested in Washoe County.

Hospital bed and ventilator information

According to the Nevada Hospital Association, in Washoe County as of November 20 (Numbers not updated on weekends):

• 82 percent staffed hospital beds are occupied (-3% since 11/19)
• 71 percent of all licensed hospital beds are occupied (-2%)
• 60 percent of all Intensive Care Unit beds are occupied (+1%)
• 32 percent of all ventilators are in use (+2%)

NOTE: Numbers are for all hospital patients in Washoe County and not just COVID-19 patients.

Volunteer to help fight COVID-19 in Washoe County

The Washoe County Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) is looking for medical professionals or those without medical experience to volunteer to help fight COVID-19 in Washoe County.

MRC was created to support public health and emergency response efforts during natural disasters and other emergencies by providing trained volunteers to help staff shelters, alternate care sites, and points of dispensing. Given the rise in hospitalizations and increased demand in COVID-19 testing, volunteers are needed to support the region. Learn how to volunteer by going to this website, or email wchdvolunteers@washoecounty.us.

Download the COVID Trace app, and help stop COVID-19

Washoe County health officials are strongly recommending that residents download the COVID Trace, an easy-to-use app that helps fight COVID-19 in Washoe County and Nevada, without compromising your privacy. Learn more here. 

The COVID-19 Regional Information Center is working together to deliver COVID-19 community updates in a unified manner. While press releases are only sent periodically for significant events, you can always get daily results on our website, https://covid19washoe.com/, our COVID-19 Dashboard or by following us on Twitter @COVID19Washoe. The entities include: City of Reno, City of Sparks, North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District, Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe, Regional Transportation Commission, REMSA, Reno Sparks Indian Colony, Reno Police Department, Reno Fire Department, Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District, University of Nevada, Reno, Washoe County, Washoe County Health District, Washoe County School District and Washoe County Sheriff’s Office. Also in the group are the area hospitals, Northern Nevada Medical Center, Renown Health and Saint Mary’s. 

A record 817 COVID-19 cases, 4 COVID-19-related deaths reported

Health District Hotline:
775.328.2427

Follow us on Twitter:
Twitter.com/covid19washoe

Nov. 21, 2020. Reno/Sparks, NV – The Regional Information Center is reporting a record 817 COVID-19 cases and four COVID-19-related deaths in Washoe County.

The deceased are four males, one in his 30s, one in his 60s and two in their 70s; all had an underlying health condition.

The 817 cases reported breaks the previous record of 610 set on Nov. 18, 2020. There were 86 recoveries.

The Health District recommends avoiding private gatherings with members outside your household. In addition, wear a mask or face covering, social distance of at least 6 feet and wash your hands frequently.

• Total COVID-19 cases in Washoe County: 21,175 (+817 from 11/20)
• Deaths: 236 (+4)
• Recovered: 13,995 (+86)
• Active cases: 6,944 (+727)
• Hospitalized with COVID-19*: 235 (+0)

*Data from Nevada Hospital Association (not updated on weekends) includes residents from outside of Washoe County.

COVID-19 tests performed in Washoe County

• Total number of COVID-19 tests performed in Washoe County as of November 21: 220,525 (+4,327 since 11/20)

Note: These figures are provided by the State of Nevada and can be found on the State Dashboard. COVID-19 tests may include non-Washoe County residents who were tested in Washoe County.

Hospital bed and ventilator information

According to the Nevada Hospital Association, in Washoe County as of November 20 (Numbers not updated on weekends):

• 82 percent staffed hospital beds are occupied (-3% since 11/19)
• 71 percent of all licensed hospital beds are occupied (-2%)
• 60 percent of all Intensive Care Unit beds are occupied (+1%)
• 32 percent of all ventilators are in use (+2%)

NOTE: Numbers are for all hospital patients in Washoe County and not just COVID-19 patients.

Volunteer to help fight COVID-19 in Washoe County

The Washoe County Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) is looking for medical professionals or those without medical experience to volunteer to help fight COVID-19 in Washoe County.

MRC was created to support public health and emergency response efforts during natural disasters and other emergencies by providing trained volunteers to help staff shelters, alternate care sites, and points of dispensing. Given the rise in hospitalizations and increased demand in COVID-19 testing, volunteers are needed to support the region. Learn how to volunteer by going to this website, or email wchdvolunteers@washoecounty.us.

Download the COVID Trace app, and help stop COVID-19

Washoe County health officials are strongly recommending that residents download the COVID Trace, an easy-to-use app that helps fight COVID-19 in Washoe County and Nevada, without compromising your privacy. Learn more here. 

The COVID-19 Regional Information Center is working together to deliver COVID-19 community updates in a unified manner. While press releases are only sent periodically for significant events, you can always get daily results on our website, https://covid19washoe.com/, our COVID-19 Dashboard or by following us on Twitter @COVID19Washoe. The entities include: City of Reno, City of Sparks, North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District, Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe, Regional Transportation Commission, REMSA, Reno Sparks Indian Colony, Reno Police Department, Reno Fire Department, Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District, University of Nevada, Reno, Washoe County, Washoe County Health District, Washoe County School District and Washoe County Sheriff’s Office. Also in the group are the area hospitals, Northern Nevada Medical Center, Renown Health and Saint Mary’s. 

Health District: A negative COVID-19 test is not required to be released from isolation or quarantine

Health District urges employers not to require a negative COVID-19 test to return to work

Health District Hotline:
775.328.2427

Follow us on Twitter:
Twitter.com/covid19washoe

Posted on behalf of the Washoe County Health District

Nov. 20, 2020. Reno/Sparks, NV – The Washoe County Health District is reminding residents that a negative COVID-19 test is not required to be released from isolation or quarantine.

The Nevada Department of Health and Human Services sent out a technical bulletin on Nov. 19, 2020 reaffirming guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that a non-test-based strategy is recommended instead. This direction also indicates that employers should not require employees to get a negative test to return to work. Requiring negative test results not only further strains testing resources, but also may prevent employees from returning to work for weeks or months after they are no longer infectious.

That recommendation of a non-test-based strategy states that the following measures should be met to be released from quarantine/isolation:

• At least 10 days have passed since symptoms first appeared, and
• At least 24 hours have passed since last fever without the use of fever-reducing medications, and
• Symptoms (e.g., cough, shortness of breath) have improved

More information on isolation and quarantine can be found here.

Other important COVID-19 information that the public should be aware of:

• The Health District only notifies residents of negative COVID-19 test results if they were done at the Reno-Sparks Livestock Events Center. If you got tested elsewhere, the place that tested you will notify you. Do not call the Health District looking for those results.
• The Health District urges people to wait 2-3 days from when they started getting symptoms to get tested for COVID-19.
• Due to high call volume, residents with symptoms of COVID-19 should schedule a test online here (En español aqui) or go to our website for more information about anything COVID-19