Nevada adds 849 COVID-19 cases, 13 deaths as new positives rebound

Nevada recorded 849 new cases of COVID-19 — the highest one-day total in a week — and 13 deaths over the preceding day, according to state data published Friday.

The state Department of Health and Human Services posted the new figures on its nvhealthresponse.nv.gov website, increasing total cases in Nevada to 64,433 and bumping the death toll to 1,185.

New cases were well above the daily average of just over 667 for the preceding week and were the highest one-day gain since 859 new cases were reported on Aug. 14.

Fatalities were well below the daily average of slightly more than 20 for the period.

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The agency also reported that hospitalizations of confirmed and suspected COVID-19 patients declined by 67 over the preceding day, to a total of 807. That’s well below the levels seen in late July and early August, when daily hospitalizations typically ranged between 1,100 and 1,165.

A day after a big surge in testing for COVID-19, which saw a record 17,046 tests processed, the figure returned to a more normal 8,920 tests in Friday’s report. That was still higher than the daily average of just over 7,531 tests reported over the preceding week.

The closely watched state infection or positivity rate, meanwhile, inched higher after remaining unchanged the previous day.

The rate has risen steadily since hitting a low of 5.20 percent on June 17 to its current level of 11.38 percent. The rate, which represents the proportion of positives among those tested, is considered a better indicator of the direction of the outbreak in the state than the daily new cases or deaths numbers.

The Southern Nevada Health District, meanwhile, also reported a resurgence in new COVID-19 cases in Clark County, with 776, and added nine to the death toll.

The figures posted on the district’s coronavirus web page pushed the case total for the county to 55,521 and raised the death toll to 1,015. The district estimates that 48,318 of those who contracted the disease caused by the new coronavirus have recovered.

The health district also reported 97 new hospitalizations of confirmed and suspected COVID-19 cases over the preceding day, underscoring recent Nevada Hospital Association reports that “some individual hospitals (are) experiencing high occupancy rates.”

“Relative COVID-19 hospital demand in Clark County is declining, however, demand remains high,” the trade group said in its most recent update posted Wednesday.

Most people who contract COVID-19 experience mild to moderate symptoms and recover after about two weeks. But for some, particularly the elderly and those with underlying medical issues, it can be deadly.

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