Due to a large volume of calls, Carson City Health and Human Services (CCHHS) announced a new COVID-19 hotline number for residents of Quad-County.
Starting Tuesday, November 17th, Quad-County residents can call (775) 434-1988. The hotline is staffed Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Residents can call to be assessed for testing or have any COVID-19 related questions answered.
CCHHS also continues to offer free COVID-19 testing for Quad-County residents, regardless of if they show symptoms. Non-residents will be turned away from the drive-thru testing.
For more information and updates on COVID-19 in Quad-County, click here.
Douglas County was flagged for elevated COVID-19 transmission on Monday.
Officials said Douglas County saw a spike in infections rates back in July, but those numbers declined for several months until now.
Due to multiple weeks of being in the red zone for two of three metrics, Douglas County is required to submit a self-assessment and action plan to the State COVID-19 Mitigation and Management Task Force.
“At this time the data shows an increase in cases which is impacting our healthcare system, our first responders and health care workers. This is not a workforce that can be easily replaced,” said Patrick Cates, Douglas County Manager. “With COVID-19 numbers rising we are asking people to be vigilant and do what they can to slow down the spread, keep our local economy open, and keep our most vulnerable safe. Our public health professionals anticipated this winter surge and are monitoring the situation closely. Every jurisdiction, rural and urban, is pulling in the same direction to get our infection numbers down.”
As of November 16, Douglas County is seeing infection rates increase. There are three metrics used by the state to gauge how each county is doing:
1. Average Number of Tests per Day – Douglas County struggled with testing numbers back in September and early October. Since then, turnout at mass testing events has been outstanding and Douglas County is currently meeting this standard.
2. Cases per 100,000 in the last 30 Days – Douglas County had been doing great with this number until the beginning of November. Now we are seeing a sharp rise in daily new cases. This is happening in all the counties in Nevada. Douglas is now in the red zone for this metric and needs to improve. That won’t improve unless people redouble their efforts to stop the spread.
3. Test Positivity Rate –Starting in late October, this number began increasing. As of November 16, 2020, that number is 13.4%. The goal is to remain below 8%. Asymptomatic people, that is folks without any COVID symptoms, should help with this number. Douglas County is asking everyone to please get tested.
Douglas County is asking the public to follow COVID-19 safety guidelines to reduce the impact on our regional health care system. Hospitals in Douglas County have limited capacity, and some patients have to be transferred to Renown in Reno, which is already using its alternative care site in the its parking garage to handle the surge.
No county services have been shut down at this time, however many services remain by appointment only.
