Nevada Health Response is urging Nevada to take steps to help reduce the risk of COVID-19 and prevent spread at spring gatherings like prom, graduation and other events. Additionally, the State wants to remind Nevadans of the resources available for vaccines, testing and treatment for COVID-19.
“As we move into spring and a time for many gatherings and celebrations we encourage all Nevadans to consider their health and the health of others as we know COVID-19 is present in Nevada communities,” said State Epidemiologist Melissa Peek-Bullock. “Vaccination can protect you from COVID-19 and a layered strategy of masking, hand washing and social distancing can further protect against the virus. If you test positive for COVID-19 we have treatment available.”
COVID-19 vaccines and booster doses are available in locations statewide and can protect against serious infection. Additionally, pre-exposure medication or oral antivirals and monoclonal antibody treatments are available to those that are eligible soon after infection occurs.
"We've been pushing prevention so much over the past couple of years," Kevin Dick, Washoe County Health District Officer said. "We have treatments that are available now and it's important for people to understand and take advantage of those."
As of May 9, the 14-day moving average of cases, confirmed and probable, has increased from 267 to 354, or 33% from the same time last week. The 7-day moving average of hospitalizations, confirmed and suspected, has increased 21% (from 120 to 145). (Data on Nevada’s COVID-19 Dashboard is updated each Wednesday.)
Washoe County's community level is still low but daily new cases are 49 percent higher than they were one week ago. The average rose from 36.71 daily new cases to 54.57 during that time. Testing demand is 20 percent higher than last week and test positivity is up to 16.5 percent.
"We're not having a meteoric rise like we experienced with Omicron but we expected that we'd be seeing increases with the BA.2 variant," Dick said.
Almost all of Washoe County's cases are the BA.2 subvariant, according to wastewater samples.
The following resources are available to Nevadans to help mitigate the risk of COVID-19:
* Get vaccinated against COVID-19. Learn about the vaccines, and where and how to get your vaccine appointment at NVCOVIDFighter.org or call the vaccine hotline at 800-401-0946.
* Get tested if you are exposed or have symptoms. If you have symptoms or know that you have been exposed to COVID-19, get tested to prevent disease spread. Learn more about testing clinics, or free at-home tests available for pickup.
* Learn about therapeutics. COVID-19 treatment appointments can be made through Nevada’s hotline at 800-401-0946. The hotline can help determine if you are eligible for oral antivirals or monoclonal antibody treatments after infection or for pre-exposure medication to increase immune response if you were to be infected in the future. Pre-screening can also be done online at NevadaCOVIDTreatment.com.
(Nevada Health Response contributed to this report.)
