1,070 new cases, 46 more deaths

Decline continues for positivity rate

Nevada on Saturday reported 1,070 new coronavirus cases and 46 additional deaths, according to the Department of Health and Human Services.

The updated figures posted to the state’s coronavirus website brought totals to 277,349 cases and 4,264 deaths since the pandemic began.

The new cases were only slightly above the moving 14-day average of daily reported cases, which fell to 1,011 on Saturday. Deaths were well above the two-week moving average of 20 a day, state data shows.

This week also marked the second-highest number of deaths recorded in a single week, state data shows. There have been 253 deaths reported since Sunday, according to a Review-Journal analysis.

The week with the highest number of recorded deaths was Jan. 3-9, when 299 were reported.

The state’s positivity rate, essentially the percentage of people tested who are confirmed to have the disease caused by the coronavirus, continued its recent descent from a high of 21.7 percent on Jan. 13, reaching 17.8 percent on Saturday — a 0.2-percentage-point decrease from the day prior.

The forward-looking metric is still more than triple the World Health Organization’s target of 5 percent, but state public officials say it indicates the state’s mitigation and vaccination efforts are having an effect on the spread of the illness.

As of Saturday, 1,242 people were hospitalized in Nevada with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 cases, 48 less than the day prior, state data shows.

Clark County on Saturday reported 809 new cases, along with 40 new deaths, according to data posted to the Southern Nevada Health District’s coronavirus website. Cumulative totals for the county rose to 213,384 cases and 3,274 deaths.

Erik Verduzco Las Vegas Review-Journal @Erik_Verduzco A person arrives Tuesday at the Sun City Anthem Community Center as volunteers Howard Winer, from left, his wife, Charlotte, and Ray McIver provide help.