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This story about how the COVID-19 outbreak is affecting Nevada communities is being updated throughout the day on Friday, March 27.

In Nevada, 86 more people tested positive for coronavirus on Friday, according to the Nevada Health Alliance dashboard.

The number of known COVID-19 cases in Nevada is now 621. The statewide dashboard does not break down numbers by county but earlier on Friday Washoe County said there were eight more cases for a total of 75.

So far 8,522 people have been tested across the state and 10 people have died.

Washoe cases total 75

The Washoe County Health District is reporting eight additional positive cases of COVID-19 bringing the total number of cases to 75.

The health district said a fifth person has also recovered from coronavirus.

The number of known COVID-19 cases in Nevada jumped by triple-digits on Thursday night, according to the Nevada Health Alliance dashboard. New numbers are expected Friday night.

So far 6,696 people have been tested across the state and 10 people have died.

3 test positive at State Veterans Home in Boulder City

Three residents at the Southern Nevada State Veterans Home in Boulder City tested positive for the COVID-19 coronavirus.

In total, 19 residents were tested after exhibiting cold or flu-like symptoms, according to a news release from the Nevada Department of Veterans Services.

Staff at the veterans home received the results on Thursday, officials said.

All three residents are in isolation are being cared for by staff members.

“We are committed to doing everything in our power to protect our residents and staff from the spread of this virus and will remain vigilant in our efforts to do so,” Kat Miller, director of the state Department of Veterans Services, said in a statement on Friday.

“We are passionate in our commitment to ensure our residents receive exceptional care; it is our duty to care and protect Nevada’s heroes,” she said in the statement.

The Department of Veteran Services placed measures to protect veterans after learning of the outbreak in the state.

In February, the department updated its pandemic plan with COVID-19 response protocols, requiring screening of all who entered the State Veterans Home in southern Nevada.

The agency also restricted all but healthcare personnel from entering the facility.

Las Vegas corrections officer tests positive

LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department corrections officer has tested positive for COVID-19.

“This employee was on vacation and visited a city heavily impacted by the virus. When he returned home, without returning to work, he began to develop symptoms and was seen by his primary care physician,” the department said in a news release Friday afternoon. “As a result, he was determined to be positive for the virus.”

This employee did not enter the workplace after returning from vacation. He did not experience symptoms before leaving Las Vegas.

No workplace contamination occurred, police said.

As of Friday, 31 LVMPD employees have been tested for the virus.

Of those, one returned positive, 14 returned negative and 16 results are still pending.

Regulators tell Nevada utilities to track COVID-19 costs

In a brief meeting on Friday, the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada approved an emergency order telling utilities to track their costs associated with helping customers cope with the COVID-19 virus pandemic.

Major Nevada utilities such as NV Energy and Southwest Gas have suspended utility cutoffs and some late charges for customers who are financially struggling due to the economic fallout from the pandemic.

With businesses large and small temporarily shuttered under an order from Gov. Steve Sisolak, unemployment has spiked.

New weekly claims for unemployment insurance benefits in Nevada surged to 93,036 last week following the closure of the state’s casinos and other non-essential businesses.

The latest numbers from the Department of Labor indicate an increase more than fourteenfold the previous week’s 6,356 new claims.

The commission wants rate regulated utilities such as electric, natural gas, water, wastewater and telecommunications to record costs of maintaining services for people, "whose service would have been terminated, discontinue, and/or disconnected under normally-applicable terms of service," dating from March 12 on.

The information, "will allow costs to be readily identified in future Commission proceedings where the utilities may seek recovery of the reasonably and prudently incurred costs."

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Commission Chair Hayley Williamson and Commissioner CJ Manthe approved the order.

The emergency meeting lasted just minutes and the commission received just one comment from the public.

Barry Gold, director of government relations for AARP of Nevada, thanked utilities for curtailing shutoffs and late fees and urged the commission when it looks at cost recovery to "do so in manner that is friendly for residential ratepayers."

Clark County only has 119 test kits left for COVID-19; testing 40-60 people a day

LAS VEGAS – The Southern Nevada Health District only has 119 test kits left to test people for COVID-19.

The Southern Nevada Public Health Lab is able to test between 40 and 60 people a day, according to health officials.

Health officials in Southern Nevada identified an additional 93 cases of COVID19 virus infection on Friday. That brings the total in the Las Vegas area to 443, although the number of cases identified is limited by the number of available tests. Southern Nevada has also reported a total of 10 deaths from the virus.

The number of positive cases in Nevada is likely higher — state, local and health care officials say they don't have enough tests to get a clear view of COVID-19's spread.

Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak this week said the state has four pending orders for kits. No shipments have been delivered.

Nevada has also placed two large orders for medical equipment – including masks – to help with the COVID-19 response. The state received a quarter of its first order and is expecting to receive a quarter of the second order.

Elko County reports third case

A third case of COVID-19 coronavirus has been confirmed in Elko County — just a day after Elko County Health Officer Dr. Bryce Putman warned the community not to get complacent.

The third patient is stable and is self-isolating at home, according a news release from the Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health.

Health officials are working to identify close risk contacts to prevent the spread of the virus.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention defines a close contact as someone who was within about six feet of the patient for a prolonged period.

“Close contact can occur while caring for or living with someone,” health officials said in the news release. “Health care workers who care for patients are also at higher risk.”

The two previous cases reported last Thursday are also stable. They are still self-isolating and are being monitored by the Division of Public and Behavioral Health.

Not everyone who is feeling ill are being tested. Health care providers determine who should be tested based on specific symptoms and circumstances.

Anyone experiencing symptoms such as fever, dry cough and shortness of breath are asked to call the COVID-19 hotline at 775-777-2507. You can also send a text or email covid19@elkocountynv.net

Southern Nevada reports 93 additional cases; Douglas County 1

Health officials in Southern Nevada identified an additional 93 cases of COVID19 virus infection on Friday.

That brings the total in the Las Vegas area to 443, although the number of cases identified is limited by the number of available tests. Southern Nevada has also reported a total of 10 deaths from the virus.

The Carson City Health and Human Services in Northern Nevada also identified a new case, a Douglas County woman in her 70s with recent travel history. The agency said she is recovering in isolation.

Forest Service to restrict group sizes through June across Nevada

People who head into the Humboldt Toiyabe National Forest will need to do so in groups of fewer than 10, according to forest service officials.

Forest Supervisor Bill Dunkelberger said the decision is in response to an order from Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak for businesses and the public to take drastic social distancing measures to limit the spread of the COVID-19 virus pandemic.

“Our priority is always to protect the health and safety of the public and our employees,” Dunkelberger said. “Limiting group sizes on Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest Lands in Nevada will helps us meet that goal and align with Governor’s Sisolak’s directives to reduce the spread of COVID-19.”

He said the order lasts through June but could be shortened if the pandemic recedes.

The Humboldt Toiyabe National Forest is among the largest in the U.S. Forest Service system, with large swaths of terrain in southern Nevada near Las Vegas, western Nevada and eastern California just outside the Lake Tahoe Basin and islands of mountainous land throughout central and northeastern Nevada.

Official: Tesla slashing workforce at Nevada Gigafactory

Tesla is planning to slash workforce at the company's Nevada Gigafactory in coming days, according to Storey County.

"Tesla has informed us that the Gigafactory in Storey County is reducing on-site staff by roughly 75% in the coming days," Storey County manager Austin Osborne wrote on the county website.

Tesla partner Panasonic, which uses its portion of the factory to manufacture cells Tesla assembles into battery packs, announced last week it would temporarily suspend operations.

Combined, the two companies employ several thousand workers.

On March 19, Tesla also announced it would suspend production at its Fremont, Calif., factory.

In the statement announcing the Fremont decision, the company reported it could weather the pandemic storm financially.

"We believe this level of liquidity is sufficient to successfully navigate an extended period of uncertainty," the Fremont announcement stated.

The Fremont factory produces Tesla vehicles using battery packs and drive trains produced in Nevada.

Due to the COVID-19 virus pandemic, companies are suspending operations deemed non-essential to limit the spread.

Tesla's press team did not immediately respond to the Storey County statement.

The company has not officially released information about the status of its factory in Nevada nor whether it would compensate workers for lost time.

Tesla has not responded to multiple requests for comment on the Nevada Gigafactory, which was built in part with public subsidies worth an estimated $1.3 billion over 20 years.

More:Panasonic to suspend operations at Nevada Gigafactory, no word from Tesla

Total number of cases in NV jump by 115

The number of known COVID-19 cases in Nevada jumped by triple-digits again Thursday night, coming to a total of 535 reported cases, according to the Nevada Health Alliance dashboard.

That's an increase of 115 cases over the previously reported number of 420.

The statewide dashboard does not break down the numbers by county, so it's unclear where the new cases are located.

So far 6,696 people have been tested across the state and 10 people have died.

Sisolak defends lengthier business closure

Gov. Steve Sisolak said Thursday his decision to institute a lengthier business closure than President Donald Trump's recommendation is based on sound medical recommendations, not "on hopes, emotion or politics."

Although Trump has said he wants businesses and churches to reopen by Easter, Sisolak's closure order doesn't expire until April 16 and may be extended beyond that.

"My date does go longer than the president's," Sisolak said during a press conference with his medical adviser Dr. Shadaba Asad. "I am relying on medical advice and facts. That’s why we have Dr. Asad here today. We are not basing this on hopes or emotions or politics. It will strictly be based on medical decisions, medical guidance and statistics."

Coronavirus in Nevada:April Fool's Day looms - but this pandemic is no laughing matter

During the 40-minute press conference Shadaba, who heads the infectious disease department at University Medical Center in Las Vegas, reiterated the importance of social distancing, proper hand-washing and sneezing etiquette.

She also tried to reassure the public that hospital workers have access to the appropriate personal protection equipment for treating patients-- a statement that seems to contradict pleas by health care workers and Sisolak himself for donated equipment.

Shadaba said hospitals are keeping COVID-19 patients sequestered from other patients and are following new CDC guidelines for reuse of masks and other protection equipment. But she acknowledged that such equipment is a precious resource in limited supply, so is being treated carefully.

"At this point in the hospital, we are not seeing patients without appropriate protection," she said. "Also, at the same time, we are doing everything we can to avoid any wastage at all."

Southern Nevada Health District update coming

LAS VEGAS – The Southern Nevada Health District will provide a COVID-19 update today at 11:30 a.m. Friday.

A total of 10 people have died from coronavirus in Nevada, according to new figures reported on the Nevada Health Response dashboard.

The number of Nevadan's who've tested positive for COVID-19 has jumped to 420 as of Thursday morning, the dashboard reports. That's an increase of 84 new cases over Wednesday's reported count on the dashboard of 321.

The number of positive cases in Nevada is likely higher—state, local and healthcare officials say they don’t have enough tests to get a clear view of COVID-19’s spread.

The dashboard report says 4,862 people have been tested as of Thursday morning, a few hundred more than the 4,572 last reported tested.

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10 more COVID-19 cases confirmed in Washoe County

The Washoe County Health District reported 10 additional cases of COVID-19 in Washoe County Thursday, moving the total number of cases to 67.

The total number of cases that have fully recovered remains at four. No deaths have been reported in Northern Nevada.

The county's COVID-19 Regional Information Team website, www.covid19Washoe.com, provides a dashboard that details how many cases there are in Washoe County, broken down by age and gender.