Clark County records 78 new COVID-19 cases, 9 additional deaths

Clark County recorded 78 new COVID-19 cases and nine additional deaths in the preceding day, according to data posted Wednesday by the Southern Nevada Health District.

The number of new cases was slightly below the daily average of just over 82 in the preceding week, while the number of fatalities was well above the average of two during the period, according to the data posted on the district’s coronavirus web page.

The health district estimates that 5,461 of the patients who contracted the disease caused by the new coronavirus have recovered.

The hospitalization rate, considered a better indicator of the trend of the outbreak in the county, registered its fourth daily decline in a row, falling to 18.45 percent, excluding deaths. The rate has been falling steadily since peaking at 27.5 percent on April 10.

The state Department of Health and Human Service, meanwhile, reported 101 new COVID-19 cases and nine additional deaths over the preceding day.

The new cases brought the total for Nevada to 8,931 cases of the disease and 429 deaths. Reports from local health districts and other county agencies placed the number of cases slightly higher, at 8,952. Such discrepancies are common given differing reporting cycles between local agencies and the state.

The new cases was lower than the daily average of slightly more than 119 reported over the preceding week, while the number of deaths was well above the average of just under 3½ over the period.

The infection rate, considered a better indicator of the trend of the outbreak in Nevada, slid lower to 5.7 percent, continuing a long-term decline that has been propelled by a growing testing capacity in the state.

On Wednesday, the state said 3,976 tests were administered over the preceding day.

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