Are you looking for a shipping solution? Maybe you need to change freight carriers? Find out what the hard working and reliable people at Team Worldwide can do over land, sea and air
COVID-19 Press Bulletin for July 29, 2021
Carson City, NV -- Today, Michelle White, the Governor’s Chief of Staff, Candice McDaniel, Deputy Director of Programs for the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services and Dr. Ellie Graeden of Talus Analytics provided updates on Nevada’s ongoing COVID-19 response and vaccination efforts during a call with members of the media.
This bulletin provides facts, figures, and informational items from the call. As a reminder, data is provided in a dashboard on the home page of the Nevada Health Response website.
SUMMARY:
CDC GUIDANCE:
This bulletin provides facts, figures, and informational items from the call. As a reminder, data is provided in a dashboard on the home page of the Nevada Health Response website.
SUMMARY:
CDC GUIDANCE:
- On Tuesday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued updated guidance related to masking, recommending everyone – vaccinated and unvaccinated – wear a mask in public indoor settings in counties with a high transmission rate.
- Previously, Governor Steve Sisolak updated Emergency Directive 045 to indicate the State of Nevada will follow and update state requirements based on CDC recommendations.
- To allow time it implement this change a grace period until midnight tonight was added.
- Masking is an effective mitigation measure, and while everyone who can to be vaccinated should, masking will help protect those who have not yet been vaccinated, or are not able to be vaccinated based on age or health conditions.
- It is important to remember that as the virus changes and evolves, the public health response must do so as well.
- Currently, with increased disease transmission due to the Delta variant, the implementation of layered prevention strategies, such as masking, is needed to reduce disease transmission and prevent future mutation.
- Data show Delta is much more contagious than past versions of the virus.
- The emerging evidence about the Delta variant demonstrates it is more formidable than the original virus. Delta spreads more than twice as easily from one person to another, compared with earlier strains.
- New data show that people infected with Delta have higher viral loads—meaning more virus in their body—than with previous variants.
- Delta is causing more “vaccine breakthrough infections,” meaning infections in fully vaccinated people, than other strains have. Importantly, the vaccines prevent most severe infections from any strain of COVID-19.
- In contrast to the Alpha strain, new data show that fully vaccinated people who are infected with the Delta variant might be infectious and might potentially spread the virus to others.
- Even so, vaccinated individuals represent a very small amount of transmission occurring around the country and most breakthrough infections are mild.
- Vaccines are working as they should and fully vaccinated individuals have a very strong degree of protection against the variants, including Delta, and they are also helping to reduce the spread of the virus in communities.
- They are overwhelmingly avoiding severe illness, hospitalization, and death. Unvaccinated individuals account for virtually all the hospitalizations and deaths in the U.S.
- Masks will protect our communities while more people are being vaccinated.
- Variants are expected as long as transmission continues, which is why vaccination and masking efforts are so critical to preventing increased transmission.
- The work in Southern Nevada to increase vaccination rates continues.
- The State is now working on a smaller scale of vaccination, in neighborhoods, connecting with people to answer questions and ensuring there are no barriers to vaccination.
- Each shot given is one more person protected and one more step in the right direction.
- These shots are critical to preventing spread and helping prevent the next strain from evolving.
- The Get Out the Vaccine operation is working door to door, in communities around Clark County to spread the word about clinic locations and provide information on the three available vaccines.
- As of July 28 more than 36,000 materials have been distributed as part of this effort.
- Canvassing, coupled with pop-up vaccination and COVID-19 rapid testing sites, is occurring in targeted neighborhoods throughout Clark County. Staff and volunteers are supporting outreach events to make vaccination as easy as possible.
- This effort would not be making progress without the support of partners and the many volunteers hard at work.
- This week there will be vaccination events at Circa Resort & Casino and The D.
- Clinics are being scheduled at different days and times to make the process as easy as possible.
- Next Monday morning vaccine will be available at Circa Resort & Casino for employees, their families and the public age 21 and older.
- The next day an event from 3 to 5 p.m. will be at The D human resource building.
- Both events are open to the public and you can pre-register through Albertsons, the vaccinating partner for the event, or walk-ins are welcome.
- The State is working with Nevada’s skilled nursing facilities and the Nevada Health Care Association to ensure all staff and residents interested in being vaccinated are able to receive the vaccine.
- The Division of Public and Behavioral Health has reviewed the publicly posted CDC data and all Nevada facilities have been surveyed to help the Division understand the challenges and any issues.
- In this review it was found that some facilities have excellent rates and are able to consistently complete the federally-required reporting, while others have had trouble with this requirement.
- The Division is working with these facilities to ensure accurate and timely reporting.
- Through the Division’s survey, statewide an average of 75% of total residents have been vaccinated which is an increase from what is posted through the federal report.
- Additionally, staff/contractors are averaging 64%.
- The program will continue to provide accurate information to promote vaccine uptake for staff and residents.
- The Immunization Program is reaching out to facilities who are interested in hosting a vaccine clinic to schedule those events and some of the State’s vaccine specialists will be answering questions and responding to concerns about the vaccines.
- The Division is also working with the facilities that have high vaccination rates to be able to share ideas and tips with other facilities so Nevada facilities can support each other in this statewide effort.
- The State continues to see positive trends in vaccination.
- First doses have increased by 4% over the past two weeks in Nevada, an encouraging sign that Vax Nevada Days and vaccine outreach programs in Southern Nevada are having a positive impact.
- Nevada administered 852 first doses per 100,000 people this week, which is 16% higher than the national rate of 733 first doses per 100,000 people.
- Additionally, almost 2% of unvaccinated Nevadans got their first shot this week.
- Cases do continue to rise in Nevada and nationwide due to the Delta variant, but vaccines are slowing the spread and continuing to save lives.
- Delta is much more contagious and everyone should continue to take precautions to protect themselves and their families.
- Compared to last summer’s surge, cases are 35% lower and deaths are 46% lower than this time last year.
- It is imperative that COVID-19 testing continue in order to identify cases early and slow the spread.
- In Nevada, testing has increased by 41% over the past two weeks.
- Anyone who is feeling sick, or may have been exposed to COVID-19 should seek testing and follow guidance related to isolation and quarantine.
- Currently the majority of new cases are in Clark, Nye and Washoe counties and these counties should be vigilant in their mitigation measures and seek vaccination as soon as they are able.
- Southern Nevada continues to have the highest hospitalization rates at 46 per 100,000 people in Clark and Nye Counties, similar to the previous week.
- While hospitals are currently reporting that they have enough supplies, medications, and vaccines, ICU and ventilator use in Southern Nevada has more than doubled in the past month, and hospitals may struggle if cases continue to rise.
- Earlier in the pandemic, there was more room in hospitals for COVID patients, because people were staying home more and there were fewer accidents and other illnesses. Now, people are returning to normal activity, so hospitals are caring for COVID patients at the same time as they are caring for their more typical patients from before the pandemic.
- In addition, people are seeing their doctor for preventative care and catch up appointments.
- Vaccination and the new masking guidance will help make sure hospitals can continue to provide care for everyone who needs it.
- The rural counties of Eureka, Storey, Esmeralda, Lander and Pershing are averaging less than one case per day.