52°F
weather icon Clear

Nye, 7 other counties flagged for elevated transmission risk

Updated August 11, 2020 - 4:41 pm

Nye County was one of eight in the state flagged Friday, Aug. 7 by the Nevada Health Response Team for having an elevated disease transmission risk, marked by meeting two or more of the criteria laid out in the state’s “Road to Recovery: Moving to a New Normal” plan.

Nye County met only one of the criteria, averaging 168.8 tests per day over a 14-day period with a seven-day lag. But the county missed targets for case rate and positivity rate. Nye’s case rate of 452.3 per 100,000 was the second highest in the state after Clark’s 1,006.8, while its test positivity rate of 17.0% was Nevada’s highest.

All eight counties — Carson City, Clark, Elko, Humboldt, Lander, Lincoln, Nye and Washoe — have been notified. In the upcoming days, county leaders will work with state officials, including Caleb Cage, the state’s COVID-19 Response Director, to thoroughly examine each county’s data through an assessment plan, and counties will submit an action plan for review and approval from the Nevada Health Response Team, which includes key state and local representatives.

If counties are found to meet two or more of the criteria again Aug. 13, they will need to enact the approved plans to help reduce the spread of the virus in their communities. Approved measures will be implemented by the local entities Aug. 14. Counties that met at least two criteria this week but show improvement in the data next week and meet only zero or one criteria will not need to take action Aug. 14 but should continue to remain vigilant against the spread of COVID-19.

Each county identified as having an elevated transmission risk must provide a jurisdictional assessment, which should provide data, analysis and recommendations from the county’s perspective.

The critical statewide metrics on which the assessment should be based are hospital capacity, access to personal protective equipment, testing capacity, case investigation and contact tracing, protection of vulnerable populations and enforcement. Each of those metrics is further broken down to give the counties specific areas to address.

Contact Tom Rysinski at trysinski@pvtimes.com

Don't miss the big stories. Like us on Facebook.
THE LATEST
Beatty riled by sheriff’s substation closure

Lone staffer will be relocated to Pahrump to help with workload there; be onsite in Beatty just once a month.

Sales tax question headed to the ballot

Road conditions in the Pahrump Valley are a sore point for many drivers as well as a source of frustration for the crews dedicated to maintaining them but with only so many road dollars to go around, it can be hard to keep pace with the demand.

How historical storytelling is highlighting Tonopah attractions

Preserving history for generations to come while simultaneously boosting tourism – that’s the goal of Tonopah Main Street: Historical Storytelling, a project that’s using the digital age to promote all of the fascinating facts about the bygone days of Tonopah.

Bake sale rakes in $2k for splash pad shade

Pahrump Mother’s Corner is on a mission to see the town of Pahrump build a community splash pad but this group of local parents is doing more than just advocating for the project – they are actively raising money to assist with paying for what they all feel will be a crucial addition to it, a shade structure.

The Veterans Extravaganza – an information hub for former military

The 7th Annual Cles Saunders Memorial Veterans’ Extravaganza took place last week, giving former military service members a chance to learn all about the various resources the area has to offer.

Want to be the county clerk? Applications due March 13

Nye County Clerk Mark Kampf announced his pending resignation last week and the Nye County Commission must now select someone to assume the soon-to-be-vacated office.

Older resident dies in fire

Pahrump Valley Fire and Rescue Services, along with the Nevada State Fire Marshal’s office are investigating the exact cause of a structure fire that claimed the life of a man early Wednesday morning.

How has the town fared with Fall Festival? Here’s an overview

When the Pahrump Valley Chamber of Commerce made the decision to divest itself of the Pahrump Fall Festival, the town of Pahrump stepped in to reassume the popular community event.