Nevada adds 870 COVID-19 cases, 21 deaths

Nevada added 870 new COVID-19 cases and 21 additional deaths over the preceding day, according to state data posted Wednesday.

The figures, posted on the Department of Health and Human Services’ nvhealthresponse.nv.gov website, brought the state case total to 45,806 and the death toll to 780.

The number of new cases of the disease caused by the new coronavirus was below the daily average of slightly more than 1,058 over the preceding week and was the lowest daily total announced by the agency since July 20.

Fatalities were well above the daily average of nearly 12 for the period.

The state also reported that utilization of hospital beds by confirmed or suspected COVID-19 patients declined by 37 over the preceding day to 1,110.

The state’s infection or positivity rate, however, continued its recent climb to top 10 percent for the first time since May 11.

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The rate, considered a better barometer of the trend of the outbreak in the state than new cases or deaths, peaked at more than 12 percent in late April before steadily declining to 5.20 percent on June 17. Since then, it has increased every day but one to reach the 10.03 percent reported Wednesday.

The Southern Nevada Health District, meanwhile, reported 811 new COVID-19 cases and 20 additional deaths in Clark County. Most, if not all, of those cases also are reflected in the state’s report, though there can be discrepancies caused by different reporting cycles.

Figures posted on the district’s coronavirus website raised the case total for the county to 39,345 and pushed the death toll to 645.

The district estimates that 30,796 of those who have contracted the disease have recovered.

New cases were below the daily average of more than 928 during the preceding week, while the fatalities were well above the daily average of just over 10 for the period.

The health district also reported 34 additional hospitalizations over the preceding day.

Both the state and health district redistribute data over multiple dates after it is announced to better represent when the onset of symptoms or death occurred. As a result, the totals announced daily generally do not match the redistributed data used by the agencies.

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.