116 new COVID-19 cases, 2 more deaths reported in Clark County

Clark County recorded 116 new cases of COVID-19 and two more deaths over the preceding day, falling back below average levels of the past week after a one-day spike in cases, according to data posted Wednesday.

The new cases reported by the Southern Nevada Health District, which brought the total in the county to 7,915, were below the daily average of just over 136 during the preceding week, while the fatalities were slightly below the daily average of just under three for the period. The death toll for the county stands at 367.

The district estimates that 6,091 of patients diagnosed with the illness caused by the new coronavirus have recovered.

They followed a one-day spike on Tuesday, when the district reported 207 cases, the most in 2½ weeks.

Public health experts say the number and rate of hospitalizations in the county are better indicators of the trend of the outbreak than daily new case and death reports, which tend to fluctuate widely.

The number of new hospitalizations in the last two days — 23 in Tuesday’s report and 19 in Wednesday’s — were above the daily average of about 9½ over the preceding week.

The hospitalization rate, the percentage of people hospitalized from those tested (excluding deaths), has continued to decline slightly over the last two days, though it fell just two-hundredths of a percent in Wednesday’s report, to 17.14 percent.

Health district epidemiologists reassign cases and deaths after they are reported to different dates in an effort to better capture when they occurred, so totals announced daily generally don’t match the detailed breakdowns provided by the health district.

Meanwhile, the state Department of Health and Human Services reported 134 new COVID-19 cases and four additional deaths on the day after it, too, saw a spike in cases.

The new cases, which pushed the total for the state to 10,164, were well below the daily average of nearly 170 over the preceding week. In contrast, the 244 new cases reported Tuesday was well above the weekly average and the highest reported in 2½ weeks.

The state death toll increased to 448 with the new fatalities. The daily figure was slightly above the daily average of just over three during the preceding week.

Reports from local health districts and other county agencies place the case total somewhat higher, at 10,218, and the death toll at 449 as of Wednesday evening.

Such discrepancies are common due to varying reporting cycles by the state and local agencies. There have been an estimated 7,552 recoveries.

The state infection rate, considered a better indicator of the trend of the outbreak in the state like the hospitalization rate in the county, also resumed its decline, shaving off four-hundredths of 1 percent to reach 5.43 percent.

It marked the third time in the past week in which the rate has risen in a daily report only to resume its descent the following day.

In another development, Nye County officials reported three new COVID-19 cases, raising the county’s total to 69. County officials say a majority of those who tested positive have recovered.

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.