Diane Vega, a respiratory therapist at UMC, processes sealed COVID-19 tests at the new Cashman Center testing facility, Mon. Aug 3, 2020.
Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021 | 7:49 p.m.
Nevada state public health officials reported a jump in coronavirus patients on Sunday, adding more than 2,700 new cases to the pandemic tally, and 32 more deaths.
The state Department of Health and Human Services said Sunday that Nevada’s COVID-19 positivity rate, measured as a 14-day rolling average, climbed to 21.1%.
That figure peaked at 21.8% on Dec. 8 and was among the highest in the U.S. in a Dec. 27 White House Task Force report. The World Health Organization goal is 5%.
Nevada has reported 231,618 virus cases and 3,183 deaths since the outbreak began in March.
The 2,747 new cases reported statewide on Sunday was up from 1,825 on Saturday, when state health officials reported five deaths.
Most cases have been in Las Vegas and surrounding Clark County, the region with most of the state's population.
The Southern Nevada Health District on Sunday reported 1,957 new cases, bringing the total to 175,591. The 25 new deaths reported in the county brought the total to 2,413.
Authorities nationally say the number of infections could be higher than reported because many people have not been tested, and studies suggest people can be infected with the virus without feeling sick.
For most people, the virus causes mild or moderate symptoms for up to three weeks, although older adults and people with existing health problems can face severe illness and death. The vast majority of people recover.
