First COVID-19 Delta variant-related death reported in Washoe County; 34 additional cases reported
Residents encouraged to get COVID-19 vaccine to protect against variants of concern
July 1, 2021. Reno/Sparks, NV – The Regional Information Center is reporting the first COVID-19 Delta variant-related death and 34 additional Delta cases in Washoe County, moving the total number of Delta variant cases to 51.
The deceased is a female in her 40s who was hospitalized, had no underlying health conditions and had not received the COVID-19 vaccine. There have been 685 COVID-19-related deaths in Washoe County since March 2020 – see Washoe County COVID-19 Dashboard here.
Most of the Delta variant cases are occurring in unvaccinated individuals and all of the hospitalized cases have been unvaccinated. Of the 51 Delta variant cases confirmed to date, nine were considered fully vaccinated, which means it had been two or more weeks since they received the second dose of Moderna or Pfizer vaccines or the one-dose Janssen (Johnson & Johnson).
A majority of the Delta variant cases had symptoms of COVID-19, including cough, fever, shortness of breath, congestion, headache and other allergy-like symptoms.
“If you are showing symptoms of COVID-19, we strongly encourage you to stay home from work or school to isolate and get a COVID-19 test with the Health District,” said Kevin Dick, District Health Officer in Washoe County. “The Delta variant has become the most common COVID-19 variant in Washoe County over the last two weeks and is extremely contagious. The COVID-19 vaccine provides the best protection to you and others around you. We strongly encourage all who can to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Those who are not yet fully vaccinated should continue to wear masks in public to protect themselves and others.”
According to the Nevada State Public Health Lab (NSPHL), among samples collected June 1-25, 2021, the Delta variant was the most common. NSPHL reported 39 percent of samples sequenced during that timeframe were the Delta variant while 34 percent were the B.1.1.7, the Alpha variant that originated in the United Kingdom. The first Delta case was confirmed in Washoe County on June 15, 2021.
Here is a list of known confirmed COVID-19 variants of concern in Washoe County since the beginning of 2021 (see Centers for Disease Control and Prevention list of variants here):
- 258 B.1.1.7 (Originated in UK/Alpha)
- 51 B.1.617.2 (India/Delta)
- *10 B.1.417/B.1.429 (California/Epsilon – now a “variant of interest” according to the CDC and not a “variant of concern”)
- 7 B.1.526 (Iota) and B.1.526.1 (NY)
- 4 B.1.617.1 (India/Kappa)
- 2 B.1.1.318 (has a E484K spike protein substitution)
- 2 B.1.351 (South Africa/Beta)
- 1 P.1 (Brazil/Gamma)
- 1 P.2 (Brazil/Zeta)
According to the CDC, one in four cases now are reported as the Delta variant nationwide. The Delta variant appears to be infecting people who are young and not vaccinated.
The COVID-19 vaccine improves protection against the new Delta variant. To schedule a COVID-19 vaccine at the Reno-Sparks Livestock Events Center, go here. The City of Reno and Reno Fire Department are hosting a COVID-19 vaccine event today and July 6 at Greater Nevada Field, home of the Reno Aces. More info here.
The Washoe County Health District has resources regarding your COVID-19 vaccine on our website at this link here. The CDC recommends that those unvaccinated still wear masks and has resources for the COVID-19 vaccine at this link.
The Health District encourages those who need a COVID-19 test to get it at the Reno-Sparks Livestock Events Center, schedule a test here. Tests administered at the Livestock Events Center automatically are sequenced for COVID-19 variants by the Nevada State Public Health Lab.
For updated information regarding the fight against COVID-19 and updated vaccine rates please see the Washoe County COVID-19 dashboard.
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.