Coronavirus spike testing health care limits

A combined 309 new coronavirus cases were reported on Tuesday and Wednesday, driving the number of active cases to 349, according to Carson City Health and Human Services.

Douglas County Emergency Manager Tod Carlini reported 45 new cases and no recoveries on Wednesday.

That followed a 264-case spike that marked a more than seven-fold increase in the number of active coronavirus cases in Douglas County

More than twice that number of people turned out for community testing on Tuesday.

Carlini said a record 554 people were tested at a combined community coronavirus and flu clinic at the Community & Senior Center in Gardnerville.

Carson City Health & Human Services reported Tuesday there were 303 active coronavirus cases in the county, just one fewer than the 304 combined active and recovered cases reported on Sept. 24, 60 days earlier. The county experienced its third death from the virus, health officials reported over the weekend.

On Tuesday, Douglas County Superintendent Keith Lewis reported 13 new cases involving all but two Valley schools.

On Monday, Lewis confirmed seven positive cases involving Douglas High, Carson Valley Middle, Piñon Hills Elementary schools. Lewis said that six of the seven cases did not attend school while infectious and there were no close contacts. Two presumptive positive cases were reported involving Meneley Elementary and Pau-Wa-Lu Middle schools.

On Tuesday, six presumptive cases involved Minden, Meneley, Jacks Valley and Gardnerville elementary schools.

Students excluded from the schools by the virus are allowed to participate in distance learning by their classroom teachers, though school is out for Thanksgiving break.

On Tuesday, health agency spokeswoman Jessica Rapp confirmed that more than 1,000 new cases of the virus have been reported since Nov. 16.

“Due to the high volume of cases, not all positive cases have been contacted,” she said. “Previously, cases were not reported until an investigation was completed. Effective (Tuesday) positive labs received will be reported as an active cases and the individuals will be notified of their test result, which may be prior to an investigation occurring.”

Health officials are urging residents to wear a mask, wash their hands and practice social distancing while staying home.

“As we enter the holiday season, staying diligent and preventing the spread of COVID-19 is even more important,” she said.