The Truckee Meadows COVID-19 Risk Meter is at its highest level yet. In a meeting about the meter, Mayor Hillary Schieve and other officials pushed caution and vigilance against the virus, as hospitals may be overwhelmed with patients in the coming weeks.

If numbers keep going up, the mayor said that we may start to see things close back down. "If we don't, we will be closing businesses. I think a mask mandate throughout the entire city of Reno is imminent."

Doctors and medical professionals that were also on the call cautioned about the increasing hospitalizations they are seeing.

"It's not just the number of cases, it's the severity of illness that we are seeing in our community," said Dr. John Hess, a doctor at Saint Mary’s Regional Medical Center. "Just about two months ago, we were averaging about 50 hospitalized patients per day with COVID in Northern Nevada. That is well over 200 now, we are approaching 250."

With this much strain on the medical field, combined with the shortage of healthcare workers, crisis care models are being discussed as well.

"Crisis care is basically a point system that is developed to decide who gets the ICU bed and who gets the ventilator in the event that we have a shortage," said Dr. Hess.

"I don't want to be here in two to three weeks and tell you that that is what all the hospitals have implemented. How tragic, how absolutely tragic," said Mayor Schieve.

The task force also spoke on how the virus is affecting people of all ages, not just the elderly and immune compromised.

"This could shorten someone’s life span by five to ten years. Yes you're sick now and you get over it, and then boom later on you have a problem," said Dr. Ron Aryel, a local pediatrician.

While in the beginning it was rare to see children suffering from the virus, doctors are starting to see more.

"There are critically ill children with this illness, so it is not just old people that get this," said Dr. Hess.

Mayor Schieve said that if everyone starts wearing masks, social distancing and adhering to safety guidelines, the rate of infections in Northern Nevada can and will go down. "There is hope on the horizon, we wont be like this forever, but right now we need all the help we can get throughout our entire community."

The Risk Meter, which is in the 'very high' range suggests that “Case numbers are high and hospitals beds are filling up. Only leave your home for essential functions: to work at your job, see a doctor, to obtain medicine from the pharmacy or food from the grocery store. Consistently wear masks anywhere that is not your home. Stay away from at risk people and don’t invite anyone to your home who doesn’t live with you. Socially isolate as much as possible.”

To see the Truckee Meadows COVID Risk Meter for yourself, you can head to covidriskmeter.org