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Health District says COVID-19 now spreading locally: 'It's a wake-up call'

The Washoe County Health District staged a press briefing Saturday afternoon after announcing the fourth positive case of COVID-19 in Washoe County, the 21st in the state.

The latest case is a man in his 20s who did not travel out of the county and had no contact with anyone who did before coming down with the illness, said Kevin Dick, Washoe County Health Officer. The man is at home in stable condition.

“We’ve stepped over a threshold,” Dick said at the press briefing. “This is our signal that we really need to redouble our efforts and heighten our awareness to our precautionary measures.”

He added, “It’s a wake-up call for us that we have COVID-19 in the community.”

That means people need to ensure they are washing hands, not shaking hands with people and practicing social distancing.

Dick also said he recently went to a grocery store and saw people packing grocery carts with canned goods and toilet paper.

“It’s probably a good idea when you go to the grocery store for you to buy a few more things so you’re building a reserve over time,” Dick said, adding there’s no threat to the food supply.

“But don’t try to wipe out the stores so no one else can get their groceries.”

He added, “This is a respiratory disease, I don’t quite understand the rush on toilet paper.”

Dick said the health district does have a plan to help self-isolating residents who need supplies but did not detail what that plan was. He emphasized residents can also place orders to have their groceries delivered.

Health officials will continue to re-evaluate their approach based on what they learn from the community, the CDC and elsewhere.

The health district is currently working to identify close contacts of those who tested positive.

However, if spread continues, the health district could become overwhelmed with close contact investigations and may need to find another approach, Dick said.

Testing is still being prioritized for people who are the “highest risk” for COVID-19, Dick said. That means people who are not showing symptoms should not seek out testing.

“We don’t have the capacity to test everybody that presents with symptoms, and we have approaches to manage the capacity that we do have through the state lab for that testing,” Dick said.

Residents who do show symptoms are asked to contact their health care provider to arrange for testing for the flu or other viral respiratory diseases. If the results are negative, they may then contact the health district to test for COVID-19.

What’s needed now, Dick said, is rapid testing, which is what health care providers use on people suspected of having the flu.

Dick said he expects the state Division of Public and Behavioral Health to provide future daily updates on the number of tests conducted.

“This is the first event like this that we’ve seen in our lifetime,” Dick said. “It’s a fluid and changing situation.

“It’s something that we’re still learning about, and we’ll take what we learn and apply it to how we’re responding,” he said.

Vail Resorts, Squaw and Alpine ski areas to close Sunday amid COVID-19 concerns

Vail Resorts, which operates three ski resorts in the Lake Tahoe area, announced it will suspend operations across North America beginning Sunday, March 15 over coronavirus concerns.

A statement from CEO Rob Katz said the company will re-evaluate on March 22 to make a decision about the remainder of the ski season.

Katz wrote, "we have made the difficult decision to suspend the operations of all our North American mountain resorts and retail stores beginning Sunday, March 15, 2020 through Sunday, March 22, 2020 and will use that time to reassess our approach for the rest of the season."

Vail operates Northstar, Heavenly and Kirkwood resorts in the Tahoe area.

Within hours of the Vail announcement Alterra Mountain Company, which owns Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows and Mammoth Mountain, made a similar announcement.

The Alterra announcement from CEO Rusty Gregory said the company would suspend resort operations beginning Sunday, "until further notice."

The Alterra announcement did not say whether employees who lose hours would continue to be paid.

"As of tomorrow (Sunday, March 15), Squaw Alpine will be closed," spokesperson Alex Spychalsky said.

Veterans Services launches 'virtual visits' in response to coronavirus

Families can now visit their loved ones virtually at the State of Nevada Veterans homes in Sparks and Boulder City.

The Nevada Department of Veterans Services announced Saturday it launched “virtual visits” as a precautionary response to the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak.

Residents have access to devices programmed with video messaging software. That means families can call to check on their relatives’ welfare throughout the day.

“As the situation with coronavirus continues to unfold, our staff recognized the need to get out in front of the challenges this presents,” Gov. Steve Sisolak said in a statement.

Sisolak said the state Department of Veterans Services launched the virtual visits ahead of the new guidelines released by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

“This not only helps to protect these veterans, but it keeps them connected to the ones they love,” he said.

Kat Miller, state director for the Nevada Department of Veteran Services, said the top priority is to protect veterans, “but we also recognize the importance of family and friends.”

The state Department of Veteran Services aid there have not been any coronavirus cases at the state veterans’ homes, but that it’s monitoring the situation closely and following the CDC’s guidelines.

Fourth coronavirus case reported to Washoe County Health District

The Washoe County Health District announced another man in his 20s, who has not traveled outside of the county, tested presumptive positive for the COVID-19 coronavirus.

The case marks the fourth case of coronavirus in Washoe County, health officials said in a news release on Saturday.

The test has been sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for confirmation.

Meanwhile, the man has been listed in stable condition and is self-isolating at home. Health officials are working to identify any close-risk contacts to prevent further spread of the disease.

The health district is expected to hold a news conference at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, according to the news release.

“We expected to begin to see community transmission of COVID-19, so this is not a surprise,” District Health Officer Kevin Dick said in a statement.

“This should heighten our attention to the importance of using precautionary measures and practicing measures and practicing social distancing to protect ourselves and prevent the spread of any respiratory or communicable disease, including COVID-19 in Washoe County,” Dick said.

On Thursday, the health district said it supported canceling large public events or gatherings, but that cancelations were not mandatory.

Concerned residents should contact their healthcare provider, telemedicine provider or call the Washoe County Health District at 311 or at 775-328-2427.

Coronavirus updates: Gov. Sisolak to address state about COVID-19 in live address

Apple Stores closed, including Reno's, for two weeks

Apple stores everywhere are closed for the next two weeks to help slow spread the COVID-19, CEO Tim Cook said.

Sisolak creates medical team to give advice on coronavirus

Gov. Steve Sisolak formed a medical advisory team in addition to signing a declaration of emergency, according to a recent news release.

The team is led by Nevada Chief Medical Officer Dr. Ihsan Azzam and is staffed by four other medical experts.

“Dr. Azzam and this medical advisory team represent some of the brightest and most well-respected medical professionals in the State,” Sisolak said in a statement.

“In this rapidly developing situation, it is critical that we turn to those with expertise in infection control and public health to guide our decision-making, and I have full confidence that we’ve assembled the right team for the job.”

The team is tasked with providing recommendations on steps the state can take to mitigate and contain the virus.

Wynn Resorts to close Las Vegas poker room, sportsbooks

Wynn Resorts announced it will close the Las Vegas hotel-casino’s poker room, sportsbooks, spas and salons starting on Sunday.

The move comes in response to the 20 coronavirus cases reported through Nevada. On Thursday, Gov.

The spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus has led to unprecedented disruptions along the Las Vegas Strip corridor, including layoffs and furloughs for thousands of workers.

Wynn Resorts also closed XS Nightclub and Encore Beach Club and canceled all large entertainment gatherings.

Read the full story here:Wynn Las Vegas to shutter poker room, sports books, spas and salons as COVID-19 spreads

Wynn Resorts buffets, nightclubs and theaters in Las Vegas and Boston have closed – including these restaurants: Costa di Mare, Lakeside, Mizumi and Wazuzu.

In one of the more drastic measures, the company is now using "non-invasive" thermal cameras to monitor the temperatures of guests.

— Ed Komenda

Here’s a look at what we know so far:

The Southern Nevada Health District is reporting nine new presumptive positive COVID-19 cases. In total, there are 16 cases in Clark County.

In total, Nevada has 20 presumptive and confirmed cases of coronavirus. Three of those cases are in Washoe County and one in Carson City.

A total of 50 passengers who were on the Grand Princess cruise ship are returning to their homes soon. Of that total, 36 are returning to the Reno-Tahoe area and 14 are returning to the Las Vegas area.

Washoe County has urged residents to practice social distancing and to keep calm.

The Reno Police Department has seen an uptick in calls from people who believe they’re suffering from symptoms of COIVD-19. Those calls are typically routed to healthcare professionals.

Meanwhile, the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office has not reported any increase in 911 calls. Residents who believe they are showing symptoms should not call 911, and instead, call 311 or the Washoe County Health District at 775-328-2427.