March 26, 2021. Reno/Sparks, NV – The Regional Information Center is reporting 65 additional COVID-19 cases in Washoe County and 41 recoveries.

Data on the COVID-19 dashboard is undergoing maintenance while we update data feeds. We will continue to report additional COVID-19 cases, recoveries and COVID-19-related deaths but will not have the totals of those data points while the maintenance takes place. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak visited Washoe County COVID-19 vaccination Point of Dispensing (POD) at the Reno-Sparks Livestock Events Center today. See photos here.

The COVID-19 vaccine is free and is available to those who work certain segments of the frontline/essential workforce and those 16 years and older with an underlying health condition. Learn more.

• Hospitalized with COVID-19*: 24 (-2)
• Vaccines administered in Washoe County total**: 188,628 (+7,147 from 3/24)
• Vaccines administered by Washoe County Health District***: 83,639 (+1,343 from 3/25)

*Data from Nevada Hospital Association includes residents from outside of Washoe County.

**This number includes first and second doses and is updated by the state of Nevada every Monday, Wednesday and Friday and can be found here under “Vaccinations” tab.

***This number is approximate and is only COVID-19 vaccines administered by the Health District. It includes first and second doses.

COVID-19 tests performed in Washoe County

• Total number of COVID-19 tests performed in Washoe County as of March 26: 402,931 (+815 since 3/25)

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 March 26:

• 66 percent staffed hospital beds are occupied (+3% since 3/25)
• 63 percent of all licensed hospital beds are occupied (+3%)
• 42 percent of all Intensive Care Unit beds are occupied (+0%)
• 26 percent of all ventilators are in use (+3%)

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

Health District urges eligible employers to share COVID-19 vaccine info with employees

Do you work for a frontline/essential workforce and are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine? Learn more about a searchable tool to see if you or your business is eligible and how to get the vaccine. See press release.

Individuals 16+ with underlying health conditions now eligible for COVID-19 vaccine

Starting Monday, March 22, 2021, Washoe County residents who are 16 years and older with an underlying health condition can start receiving COVID-19 vaccines by area pharmacies. The Washoe County Health District will continue to vaccinate eligible Nevadans within the Frontline/Essential Workforce Lane and individuals 65 years and older at the Reno-Sparks Livestock Events Center. Read more.

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. 

31 additional cases of B.1.1.7 variant confirmed in Washoe County

March 25, 2021. Reno/Sparks, NV – The Washoe County Health District (WCHD) is announcing 31 additional cases of the COVID-19 variant B.1.1.7 in Washoe County since the last report on March 17. There are 45 total cases of the variant now confirmed in Washoe County, which originated in the United Kingdom (UK).

The majority of cases with this variant are due to spread occurring through youth sporting events and private gatherings, as well as domestic air travel and travel to neighboring states.

Detection of the B.1.1.7 variant is done by the Nevada State Public Health Lab and can only be sequenced through testing conducted by the Washoe County Health District and Renown Health. To schedule a test, see our website or call 775-328-2427.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has more information on all COVID-19 variants. There are two COVID-19 variants of concern reported in Washoe County. The first was the  variant that originated in South Africa, B.1.351.

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.

Weekly COVID-19 Vaccine Community Newsletter – March 25, 2021

Vaccine info for businesses, 16+ w/ underlying health conditions and free donuts

March 25, 2021. Reno/Sparks, NV – The Regional Information Center is providing a COVID-19 vaccine community newsletter in Washoe County to help educate residents on the mass vaccination effort by the COVID-19 Response Team and community partners.

Update from the COVID-19 Response Team

Providers in Washoe County have administered 181,481 COVID-19 vaccines overall (74,768 second doses), with 21,199 happening between March 18-March 25, 2021. Visit the State of Nevada’s vaccine dashboard to see more.

Essential Business Update

The Washoe County Health District (WCHD) is asking local businesses that are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine to ensure employees have access and information to schedule a vaccine appointment. WCHD has sent invitations to those in the Frontline Supply Chain Logistics and Frontline Commerce & Service Industries and is soon working to invite Frontline Infrastructure. See all the workgroups here.

• Go to our searchable database on our website to see which employers are on the list to either receive COVID-19 vaccine appointment or have already received COVID-19 vaccine appointments
• Those entries shaded in green have received an invitation from Washoe County
• If your employer or business is not on the list, click the “Fill Request To Participate Form”

If your employer is eligible and you have not received information on how to schedule a vaccine, please contact your employer, or email covidvaccine@washoecounty.us or call 775-328-2427. You will be required to show proof of employment when you check-in for your COVID-19 vaccine appointment at the Reno-Sparks Livestock Events Center.

Learn more: https://www.covid19washoevaccine.com/

Residents 16 and Older with Underlying Conditions 

If you are 16 years of age or older with an underlying condition (listed below), you are now eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine. Vaccination opportunities for this group will only be available through the Retail Pharmacy Program or participating healthcare providers, meaning you will need to schedule your appointment with one of the providers listed below.  

Retail Pharmacy Providers:

Check with each resource individually, and often. Signing up for the Washoe County waiting list does NOT mean you are also signed up to receive the COVID-19 vaccine at one of these locations – these are separate appointment availabilities.

• Smith’s – Click here for more information or call 1-800-576-4377
• Walgreens – Click here for more information or call 1–800–925–4733
• Walmart – Click here for more information
• Sam’s Club – Click here for more information

The following partners are also scheduling appointments for eligible lanes with limited availability:

• Renown Health – Sign up for MyChartor call 775-982-2781
  • Note: Renown is now scheduling for people ages 45 and older with underlying health conditions
• Saint Mary’s – Call 775-770-3000
• Community Health Alliance – Click here for more information or call 775-336-3035
• VA Hospital – Click here for more information or call 775-786-7200
• Sparks Fire Department – Click here for more information

Learn more about the COVID-19 vaccine in Washoe County by going to our website.

The Washoe County Health District will continue to schedule appointments only for Seniors 65+ and frontline/essential workers as defined in the prioritization lanes on our website. Once we have reached the majority of these populations, we will schedule appointments for all other eligible candidates.

What are the Underlying Conditions?

The Nevada State Immunization Program (NSIP) identifies the following underlying health conditions as ones which will cause a person to have an increased risk of severe illness of COVID-19:

• Cancer
• Chronic kidney disease
• Chronic lung diseases and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• Down syndrome
• Heart conditions
• Anyone who is immunocompromised from an organ transplant
• Obesity
• Pregnancy
• Sickle cell disease
• Type 2 diabetes mellitus
• Smoking

Krispy Kreme Offers Free Doughnuts to Vaccinated People

Bring your COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card to Krispy Kreme Doughnuts and receive a free Original Glazed® doughnut. Qualified guests include anyone who has received at least their first dose.

For all COVID-19 Vaccine questions, please visit our regional website, www.COVID19WashoeVaccine.com.

Please share: If you know of someone who wants to receive this newsletter, pass along the link to sign up. https://covid19washoe.com/signup/

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.