1 additional COVID-19-related death, 58 new COVID-19 cases reported

More than 45,000 COVID-19 cases confirmed in Washoe County

April 21, 2021. Reno/Sparks, NV – The Regional Information Center is reporting one additional COVID-19-related death, 58 new COVID-19 cases and 66 recoveries. The deceased is a male in his 50s with an underlying health condition.

Since March 2020, there have been more than 45,000 COVID-19 cases in Washoe County and 668 COVID-19-related deaths.

There are several opportunities to receive the COVID-19 vaccine that are close to home and work. Schedule a vaccine appointment at the Reno-Sparks Livestock Events Center here or find other providers who are vaccinating the general public as well. The City of Sparks has vaccine appointments available for Friday, April 23 – learn more here.

• Total COVID-19 cases in Washoe County: 45,026 (+58 from 4/20)
• Deaths: 668 (+1)
• Recovered: 42,393 (+66)
• Active cases: 1,965 (+24)
• Hospitalized with COVID-19: 25 (-8)
• Positivity rate: 7.2% (+0.1%)
• Vaccines administered in Washoe County: 283,039 (+3,734 from 4/20; 46.84% of Washoe County population 16+ have had vaccination initiated)
• Washoe County residents fully vaccinated: 112,355 (+1,447 from 4/20; 29.35% of Washoe County population 16+)
• Vaccines administered by Washoe County Health District: 127,187 (+2,225 from 4/20; 55,775 fully vaccinated)

Please note that COVID-19 case count, recovery and death information can change retroactively based on updated information that the Washoe County Health District receives. For example, if the Health District receives new positive test results or discovers that a case did not live in Washoe County, the number of cases, recoveries or deaths reported on a previous day can go up or down based on what was previously reported. See the COVID-19 Dashboard here.

*Hospitalization data is from Nevada Hospital Association.

*Washoe County COVID-19 Vaccine Data can be found on the State of Nevada dashboard, here.

*Vaccine data from the Washoe County Health District can be found here.

COVID-19 tests performed in Washoe County

• Total number of COVID-19 tests performed in Washoe County as of April 21: 426,412 (+1,200 since 4/20)

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 April 21:

• 60 percent of all licensed hospital beds are occupied (+2% since 4/20)
• 63 percent staffed hospital beds are occupied (+2%)
• 43 percent of all Intensive Care Unit beds are occupied (+1%)

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

CDC offers funeral expense assistance for COVID-19-related deaths

The Federal Government, through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), is reimbursing the cost of funeral, burial, and cremation services for people who died of COVID-19. FEMA is providing financial assistance for COVID-19 related funeral expenses incurred after January 20, 2020. Learn more here. For information on obtaining a death certificate, please go here.

Residents urged to fill out screening questionnaire before COVID-19 vaccine appointment at Livestock Events Center

The Regional COVID-19 Response Team is urging residents who receive the COVID-19 vaccine at the Reno-Sparks Livestock Events Center (RSLEC) to fill out the screening questionnaire the day prior to your appointment.

The link to fill out the questionnaire only takes a few minutes and is emailed and texted to residents about 22 hours prior to their appointment time. Learn more by clicking this link.

Residents 16+ eligible for Free COVID-19 vaccine

Washoe County residents 16 years and older are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine and the Washoe County COVID-19 response team has launched a new scheduling platform that will allow residents to choose the brand of COVID-19 vaccine they want. Read more. Watch a tutorial video on how to schedule an appointment here.

Need a COVID-19 test? It’s easy to sign up and it’s free

COVID-19 testing is still available at the Livestock Events Center and can be scheduled online here (en español aqui) or by calling 775-328-2427. It’s free and it does not matter if you have symptoms or not.

Sign up for the COVID Trace App

COVID Trace is a contact tracing mobile app developed by the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services that uses a technology called the Exposure Notifications System from Google and Apple. The app exchanges anonymous information with other phones in your vicinity and can notify you if you’ve come in contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.See 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. 

67 additional cases of B.1.1.7 variant confirmed in Washoe County, 112 total

April 21, 2021. Reno/Sparks, NV – The Washoe County Health District (WCHD) is announcing 67 additional cases of the COVID-19 variant B.1.1.7 in Washoe County since the last report on March 25, moving the total number of B.1.1.7 cases to 112. The B.1.1.7 variant was originally detected in the United Kingdom (UK).

The majority of cases with this variant are due to spread occurring through private gatherings, in the workplace and with youth sporting events.

Detection of the B.1.1.7 variant is done by the Nevada State Public Health Lab. To ensure your results are sequenced for other variants, please schedule a test through the Washoe County Health District – see our website to schedule a test or call 775-328-2427.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has more information on all COVID-19 variants. The first COVID-19 variant reported in Washoe County originated in South Africa, B.1.351. There also have been variants of concern from California, which are the B.1.427 and B.1.429.

According to the CDC, this variant that originated in the UK is “associated with increased transmissibility (i.e., more efficient and rapid transmission, including an increased risk of death compared to other variants).”

A reminder that face coverings are still required when out in public – see current mitigation measures from the State of Nevada. Face coverings offer protection when in public and are required even after you receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

For more information about COVID-19 in Washoe County, please see our website.

The Washoe County Health District is nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board and has jurisdiction over all public health matters in Reno, Sparks, and Washoe County through the policy-making Washoe County District Board of Health. The District consists of five divisions: Administrative Health Services, Air Quality Management, Community and Clinical Health Services, Environmental Health Services and Epidemiology & Public Health Preparedness. More info can be found here.

2 COVID-19-related deaths, 31 additional cases reported

April 20, 2021. Reno/Sparks, NV – The Regional Information Center is reporting two additional COVID-19-related deaths in Washoe County: Two males in their 60s, one had an underlying health condition. There have been 667 COVID-19-related deaths in Washoe County since March 2020.

Additionally, we’re reporting 31 new COVID-19 cases and 86 recoveries.

There are several opportunities to receive the COVID-19 vaccine that are close to home and work. Schedule a vaccine appointment at the Reno-Sparks Livestock Events Center here or find other providers who are vaccinating the general public as well. The City of Sparks has vaccine appointments available for Wednesday, April 21 and Friday, April 23 – learn more here.

Those 16-17 years old who are eligible to receive the Pfizer vaccine must have a parent/guardian with them at the appointment.

• Total COVID-19 cases in Washoe County: 44,971 (+31 from 4/19)
• Deaths: 667 (+2)
• Recovered: 42,363 (+86)
• Active cases: 1,941 (-43)
• Hospitalized with COVID-19: 33 (-4)
• Positivity rate: 7.1% (-0.1%)
• Vaccines administered in Washoe County: 279,305 (+4,979 from 4/19; 46.24% of Washoe County population 16+ have had vaccination initiated)
• Washoe County residents fully vaccinated: 110,908 (+2,165 from 4/19; 28.97% of Washoe County population 16+)
• Vaccines administered by Washoe County Health District: 124,962 (+2,131 from 4/19; 53,562 fully vaccinated)

Please note that COVID-19 case count, recovery and death information can change retroactively based on updated information that the Washoe County Health District receives. For example, if the Health District receives new positive test results or discovers that a case did not live in Washoe County, the number of cases, recoveries or deaths reported on a previous day can go up or down based on what was previously reported. See the COVID-19 Dashboard here.

*Hospitalization data is from Nevada Hospital Association.

*Washoe County COVID-19 Vaccine Data can be found on the State of Nevada dashboard, here.

*Vaccine data from the Washoe County Health District can be found here.

COVID-19 tests performed in Washoe County

• Total number of COVID-19 tests performed in Washoe County as of April 20: 425,212 (+951 since 4/19)

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 April 20:

• 58 percent of all licensed hospital beds are occupied (-2% since 4/19)
• 61 percent staffed hospital beds are occupied (-2%)
• 42 percent of all Intensive Care Unit beds are occupied (+0%)

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

CDC offers funeral expense assistance for COVID-19-related deaths

The Federal Government, through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), is reimbursing the cost of funeral, burial, and cremation services for people who died of COVID-19. FEMA is providing financial assistance for COVID-19 related funeral expenses incurred after January 20, 2020. Learn more here. For information on obtaining a death certificate, please go here.

Residents urged to fill out screening questionnaire before COVID-19 vaccine appointment at Livestock Events Center

The Regional COVID-19 Response Team is urging residents who receive the COVID-19 vaccine at the Reno-Sparks Livestock Events Center (RSLEC) to fill out the screening questionnaire the day prior to your appointment.

The link to fill out the questionnaire only takes a few minutes and is emailed and texted to residents about 22 hours prior to their appointment time. Learn more by clicking this link.

Residents 16+ eligible for Free COVID-19 vaccine

Washoe County residents 16 years and older are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine and the Washoe County COVID-19 response team has launched a new scheduling platform that will allow residents to choose the brand of COVID-19 vaccine they want. Read more. Watch a tutorial video on how to schedule an appointment here.

Need a COVID-19 test? It’s easy to sign up and it’s free

COVID-19 testing is still available at the Livestock Events Center and can be scheduled online here (en español aqui) or by calling 775-328-2427. It’s free and it does not matter if you have symptoms or not.

Sign up for the COVID Trace App

COVID Trace is a contact tracing mobile app developed by the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services that uses a technology called the Exposure Notifications System from Google and Apple. The app exchanges anonymous information with other phones in your vicinity and can notify you if you’ve come in contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.See 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.