As Nevada faces an uptick in COVID-19 cases, current hospitalization rates across the state are now worse than last summer’s numbers.
According to KTNV News, as of Tuesday, Aug. 3, the state reported that 1,148 people had been hospitalized with COVID-19 and 67 others were suspected to have the illness. Last summer, when rates for the virus were at their highest, there were 972 confirmed hospitalizations and 174 patients suspected to have the illness.
“Here’s your weekly COVID-19 variant update for Nevada: The Delta variant was responsible for 85.4% of cases* sequenced in Nevada over the last 14 days, up from 83.6% last week,” Megan Messerly, Nevada Independent reporter, wrote in a Aug. 2 Twitter post.
State data shows that COVID-19 positivity rates have increased to 15.5% and at least 24 people have died from the disease, according to Las Vegas 8 News Now.
The state also reported that 10 of Nevada’s 17 counties have been identified as substantial and high transmission counties.
Health officials report that the surge in cases is due to the new highly contagious delta variant of the COVID-19 virus and a slowing number of people receiving vaccinations across the state.
“The CDC recommended that everyone, including fully vaccinated individuals, wear a mask in public indoor settings in counties with substantial or high transmission. In line with Emergency Directive 045 (signed and effective May 3, 2021), the State of Nevada is automatically adopting the latest CDC guidance related to masks as a statewide requirement,” the state noted in a news release, according to Las Vegas 8 News Now.
