53 new COVID-19 deaths put Nevada over 4K mark

Nevada on Saturday reported 1,501 new coronavirus cases and 53 additional deaths, according to data from the Department of Health and Human Services.

The updated figures posted to the state’s coronavirus website raised totals to 269,713 cases and 4,011 deaths.

Although Nevada set a record for highest one-day increase in deaths this week, 71 on Wednesday, the total number of deaths reported since Sunday did not break the weekly record of 311, set last week, according to a Review-Journal analysis. There were 250 deaths recorded this week, the third highest weekly total since the start of the pandemic.

The new deaths reported Saturday were well above the 14-day moving average of daily recorded fatalities, which remained at 21.

The trends in coronavirus deaths tend to lag a few weeks behind other metrics and don’t reflect the current state of the pandemic, state officials have said. Other trends have been decreasing throughout the week.

The 14-day moving average of daily reported cases dropped for the eighth straight day on Saturday, falling to 1,332, state data shows.

The two-week positivity rate, which essentially tracks the percentage of people tested who are diagnosed with the disease, fell to 19.8 percent, a 0.1 percentage point decrease from the day prior. It was also the eighth straight day the rate has fallen.

There are 1,499 people in the state hospitalized with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 cases, which is 50 fewer than the previous day, state data shows. Although hospitalizations remain at high levels, they have been trending slightly lower since December.

Clark County on Saturday reported 1,314 new cases and 44 additional deaths, according to data posted to the Southern Nevada Health District’s coronavirus website. Cumulative totals in the county rose to 207,240 cases and 3,061 deaths.

Contact Katelyn Newberg at knewberg@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0240. Follow @k_newberg on Twitter.