COVID-19 Delta variant update in Washoe County: 53 additional cases, 1 death reported
Total COVID-19 Delta variant-related deaths up to 3, all were unvaccinated
July 14, 2021. Reno/Sparks, NV – The COVID-19 Regional Information Center is reporting an additional COVID-19 Delta variant-related death in Washoe County. The deceased is a female in her 50s with an underlying health condition.
There have been 688 COVID-19-related deaths in Washoe County since March 2020 – three of those cases were confirmed to have the Delta variant through sequencing performed by the Nevada State Public Health laboratory, and none of the three had received a COVID-19 vaccine.
Additionally, we’re reporting 53 additional COVID-19 Delta variant cases for a total of 118 in Washoe County. Of the 118 Delta cases, 11 were hospitalized and four were in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Of the 11 hospitalized cases, only one received a COVID-19 vaccine. Approximately 40 Delta cases are considered “active” and have yet to recover.
“The Delta variant is currently the dominant strain in Washoe County and the state of Nevada,” said Dr. Nancy Diao, Division Director for Epidemiology and Public Health Preparedness for the Washoe County Health District. “Our disease investigators are reporting back that cases with the Delta variant are experiencing more severe symptoms lasting more than 10 days. All but one hospitalized case, and all fatal cases, infected with the Delta variant were not vaccinated. It’s extremely important that residents receive a COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible.”
Today we are reporting 52 new daily cases of COVID-19 in Washoe County. This is the highest number of new cases reported since May 6. The 7-day average of new cases is now 33.3 which is a 65% increase in new cases in only a week.
With the Delta variant circulating, which is twice as contagious as the COVID-19 virus was last July, and nearly half of our population still not fully vaccinated, residents are vulnerable to a rapid increase in cases and hospitalizations as we have seen is currently occurring in Clark County. See more COVID-19 information on our dashboard. If you are showing symptoms of COVID-19, you need to stay home, isolate from others, and get a COVID-19 test with the Health District.
The vaccines have been proven to be effective against the Delta variant and they are the solution for preventing transmission, hospitalizations, and deaths from COVID-19.
Residents 12 and older are urged to get vaccinated as soon as possible, and to consider information from reliable sources when making the decision to be vaccinated. Vaccinations are readily available and provided free of charge regardless of immigration status.
The COVID-19 vaccine is being offered every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at the Reno-Sparks Livestock Events Center from 8:30-11:30 a.m. Walk-ins are welcome, but appointments are recommended. Sign up for an appointment here.
Local pharmacies and grocery stores are offering the vaccine as well. See a full list here.
There are several community COVID-19 vaccine events this week that can be found here, including today at Sun Valley Community Center from noon-5 p.m., Sparks Middle School from 1-4 p.m. and at Lazy 5 Regional Park from 5-7:30 p.m.
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.