COVID-19 positivity rate drops to 4 percent in Clark County

Clark County’s two-week COVID-19 positivity rate decreased by 0.1 percentage point to 4 percent — its lowest level since the early days of the outbreak in Nevada, according to state data posted on Wednesday.

Updated figures posted to the Department of Health and Human Services’ coronavirus website Nevada indicate the county’s rate, which essentially tracks the percentage of people tested for COVID-19 who are found to be infected, is just under 18 percent of its peak level of 22.6 percent on Jan. 14.

The data also showed 268 new coronavirus cases and 10 additional deaths reported statewide over the preceding day.

That brought totals for the state to 303,762 cases and 5,249 deaths.

All the fatalities reported for the day occurred in Clark County, according to data posted to the Southern Nevada Health District’s coronavirus website.

Data guide: COVID-19’s impact on Nevada

New cases reported by the state were well above the 14-day moving average of 197 cases reported daily. Deaths were also well above the moving two-week average of three per day.

The state’s two-week positivity rate was unchanged at 4.2 percent.

The number of people in Nevada hospitalized with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 cases remained at 273.

State and county health agencies often redistribute the daily data after it is reported to better reflect the date of death or onset of symptoms, which is why the moving-average trend lines frequently differ from daily reports and are considered better indicators of the direction of the outbreak.

Major disease metrics, including the two-week averages of cases and deaths, have been trending downward in the state since mid-January at least, officials have said. But cases of the disease caused by the new coronavirus have begun to climb nationally, raising concerns among some public health officials about another extended surge.

There are signs in Nevada that at least one key metric is flattening, Caleb Cage, the state’s COVID-19 response director, said at a news briefing on Wednesday.

“The Nevada Hospital Association is reporting that COVID-19 hospitalizations around the state are beginning to stabilize, which may be indicative of another plateau,” he said.

He said he was unaware whether state public health experts have seen a similar pattern in the other major disease metrics.

Meanwhile, Clark County reported 249 new coronavirus cases, according to data from the health district.

Cumulative totals in Clark County rose to 234,549 cases and 4,108 deaths.

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