Nevada adds fewest new COVID-19 cases since June 26, but deaths spike

Nevada recorded its lowest number of new COVID-19 cases in nearly two months — 389 — compared with the preceding day, but saw its second-highest one-day increase in deaths with 32, according to state data posted Wednesday.

Figures posted by the Department of Health and Human Services on its nvhealthresponse.nv.gov website brought the state case total to 63,028 and the death toll to 1,134. Reports from local health districts and counties place the case total somewhat higher, at 63,120 as of Wednesday night.

New cases of the disease caused by the new coronavirus were the lowest one-day increase reported by the agency since it logged 381 new cases on June 26. They were also well below the daily average of just over 731 over the preceding week.

Fatalities, however, were well above the daily average of just over 17 for the period.

Hospitalizations of confirmed and suspected COVID-19 declined by 36 compared with the preceding day, bringing the total to 867.

The state’s stubborn infection or positivity rate increased for the sixth straight day, though it only ticked 0.02 percent higher to 11.33 percent.

The rate, confirmed cases divided by the number of people tested, is considered a better barometer of the trend of the outbreak than daily new cases or deaths updates. It has risen higher every day but three since bottoming out at 5.20 percent on June 17.

At a briefing for reporters, state officials said that they were awaiting further data before deciding whether the low daily case figure indicates that safety measures such as the closure of some nonessential businesses like bars, mask wearing and social distancing are beginning to produce an impact.

“Just as when we looked at high numbers … we are looking at this data in terms of trend,” said Caleb Cage, Nevada’s COVID-19 response director, noting that new case averages have been declining slightly for a couple of weeks. “There are anomalies that could … have an impact on the various numbers.”

But Julia Peek, a deputy administrator with the Division of Public and Behavioral Health, added that unlike some previous cases where low daily case numbers were the result of reporting problems, “We are not aware of any reporting issues today.”

As for the high number of deaths, Cage noted that deaths typically occur around five weeks after diagnosis, suggesting those figures could remain elevated for several more weeks even if the case numbers remain lower.

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The Southern Nevada Health District also reported far fewer new COVID-19 cases and far more deaths in Clark County over the preceding day than recent averages. The Clark County data is included in the state figures, but due to differences in reporting cycles they don’t always get recorded in both places on the same day.

The Southern Nevada Health District posted data on its coronavirus web page showing 277 new cases, bringing the case total to 54,353, and 32 additional fatalities, pushing the death toll to 969. The district estimates that 46,191 of those who contracted the disease have recovered.

The new cases reported Wednesday, the lowest one-day jump since the district added 227 new cases on June 22, were far below the daily average of nearly 644, while the fatalities were far above the daily average of nearly 14.

Both the state and the health district redistribute the new cases and deaths after they are reported to better reflect when a person became ill or died. As a result, the numbers published daily often don’t match the reworked data presentations they produce.

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