Nevada sees 632 new COVID-19 cases, 16 additional deaths

Nevada recorded 632 new cases of COVID-19 and 16 additional deaths from the disease over the preceding day, according to state data posted Friday.

New figures posted by the Department of Health and Human Services on its nvhealthresponse.nv.gov website raised the case total for the state to 67,852 and the death toll to 1,287.

New cases were well above the daily average of just over 519 for the preceding week, while fatalities were slightly above the daily average of more than 14 for the period.

Despite ending the week on an increase, the daily average of new cases over the week ending Friday was down substantially from the preceding week — falling from just over 699 to about 488.

Deaths also declined over the periods, from a daily average of nearly 19 two weeks ago to a daily average of just under 14 this week.

The state’s infection or positivity rate — calculated by the Review-Journal as confirmed cases divided by people tested — has proven more stubborn, inching higher to 11.53 percent in Friday’s report.

The rate, considered a better indicator of the trend of the outbreak than daily case and death reports, has risen steadily since bottoming out at 5.20 percent on June 17.

Interactive: Tracking the coronavirus’ impact on Nevada through data

Hospitalizations of confirmed and suspected COVID-19 patients, meanwhile, declined by 20 over the preceding day to a total of 707. That is well below the highs in the 1,100-1,165 range seen in late July and early August.

Testing also rebounded from a sub-par week, with 8,126 reported. That was well above the daily average of nearly 5,647 for the preceding week, which was well below the daily average of nearly 7,591 for the week before that.

The Southern Nevada Health District, meanwhile, reported 536 new COVID cases and 12 additional deaths in Clark County over the preceding day.

Data posted on the district’s coronavirus web page increased the case total for the county case total to 58,292 and the death toll to 1,111.

New cases were above the daily average of just over 430 for the preceding week, while fatalities were slightly above the daily average of nearly 11 over the period.

Where to get tested for COVID-19 in Clark County

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

Contact Mike Brunker at mbrunker@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-4656. Follow @mike_brunker on Twitter.