The Truckee Meadows COVID Risk Meter gives a daily rating for Northern Nevada, and provides tips on how you can help reduce the spread and lower the increasing numbers we are seeing in Washoe County.

The risk meter has a new website, and is constantly being updated with new information and resources in an effort for the public to better understand the risks of infection on a day to day basis.

"If the meter climbs, you may give that a second thought and maybe decide I don't think I'm going to attend that meeting or that gathering this week," said Reno City Council Member Naomi Duerr.

The meter, which ranks the local risk level in northern Nevada, ranges from low to severe and is put together by a group of local leaders, scientists and doctors.

"We need to be listening to our scientists not our politicians and that's why I have experts here at the table, who have been working with us in this working group for about seven months now," said Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve.

There are 5 indicators for determining the risk levels.

  • The number of people calling for tests.
  • The number of positive cases in the area.
  • The number of new daily cases per 100,000.
  • The last two measures the number of medical interventions due to COVID and hospital capacity.

"The risk meter is really for communication and for you to make those decisions and understand the progress that we are making in the community, or if we are regressing in the community, and that's why this tool is so critical," said Mayor Schieve.

The meter is something officials hope is widely used by the public to make decisions around Northern Nevada to help slow the spread, as Washoe County is reporting 2017 active cases, the highest recorded since the beginning.

"We shouldn't sugar coat this at all, this is going to be a long fall and winter, and I think that we need to all do our part community wide to ensure the safety and integrity of both the people and the economy," said Dr. Bret Frey with Northern Nevada Emergency Physicians.

And while this meter is aimed to inform the public and other agencies, Mayor Schieve did suggest that if we get too far in the 'red' some new restrictions may be put in place.

"As this information comes in, we will watch it, and if we have to make more restrictions, we certainly will, but this is the time to really message that we don't want to go to that extreme, and we don't have to if we all do our part," said Mayor Schieve.

You can view the Truckee Meadows COVID Risk Meter at https://tmrpa.org/covid-wc/