Margarita DeSantos, a registered nurse and community health manager with the Southern Nevada Health District, receives her second dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Monday, Feb. 1, 2021.
Monday, Feb. 15, 2021 | 2:24 p.m.
Nevada health officials on Monday reported 391 new COVID-19 cases and 11 deaths.
The latest numbers reported by the state bring the pandemic totals in Nevada to 288,739 known cases and 4,720 known deaths.
Nevada’s two-week positivity rate has been trending down since mid-January and dropped to 12.8%, according to the latest data.
The number of infections is thought to be far higher than reported because many people have not been tested, and studies suggest people can be infected with the virus without feeling sick.
After Gov. Steve Sisolak's announcement last week, the state began loosening some restrictions Monday put in place to stem the winter surge of the virus.
Restaurants can now fill their dining rooms to 35% of capacity, up from 25% and they no longer have capacity limits for outdoor dining. Casino floors and gyms also saw capacity increases to 35%. Libraries, museums and art galleries can now accommodate half-capacity.
Private outdoor gatherings can now include as many as 25 people, up from 10, and public gatherings can involve as many as 100 people or 35% of capacity, whichever is less.
Sisolak’s office announced Sunday night that he signed an additional directive that allows churches and mosques to open at 50% capacity, instead of 35% as he originally announced with the relaxing of restrictions.
The governor's office said the change was made to comply with a recent 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruling that sided with a rural Nevada church challenging the governor's limits on religious gatherings.
