Coronavirus live updates: 22 new Washoe cases; WCSD ends superintendent search

This is a breaking news story that will be updated throughout the day on Tuesday, March. 31.

WCSD ends superintendent search, plans McNeill appointment

7:15 p.m.

The Washoe County School District Board voted to end its superintendent search Tuesday evening, and will vote on appointing Kristen McNeill to the post permanently at its April 28 meeting.

Trustees spoke in support of McNeill, who was named interim superintendent on July 1, when the school board fired Traci Davis.

"Our best way moving forward is to suspend the search," said Trustee Andrew Caudill, who said McNeill has impressed him over the last few months.

"I have seen tremendous growth in her."

Trustee Scott Kelly said McNeill has risen to the occasion

"You don't change the top leader in a crisis," Kelley said.

Washoe County reports 22 new cases

5:05 p.m.

Health officials reported 22 new COVID-19 coronavirus cases in Washoe County, according to the Regional Information Center.

Three additional patients have recovered, health officials said.

The new cases brought the total to 143 coronavirus cases reported in the county. Three have died, 20 have been hospitalized, 13 have recovered and 127 cases are still active.

Editor's note: This story is being provided for free as a public service during the COVID-19 outbreak. Please consider supporting our local journalists in Nevada by subscribing to the Reno Gazette Journal.

Two Reno officers, Truckee Meadows firefighter test positive

5:15 p.m.

Two Reno police officers and a Truckee Meadows firefighter tested positive for the virus, according a to a news release.

Reno Police Chief Jason Soto confirmed on Tuesday that two sworn personnel tested positive, and the police department is working with the Washoe County Health District to contact anyone who may have encountered them.

Meanwhile, the firefighter was experiencing mild symptoms and is in isolation. He also reportedly had contact with his crew members, who are also in isolation for 14 days and will be tested if they show symptoms

Incoming travelers urged to self-quarantine

4:25 p.m.

Gov. Steve Sisolak has issued a travel advisory urging all Nevada residents and visitors to self-quarantine for two weeks after arriving or returning to the Silver State.

“We know this virus does not spread on its own so we need everyone, Nevadans and travelers, to take preventive measures to help flatten the curve and protect the most vulnerable among us,” Sisolak said in a statement announcing his latest coronavirus-prevention effort. “Nevada will always be a welcoming spot for travelers, but out of an abundance of caution, we are asking everyone to Stay Home for Nevada, especially if you have symptoms.”

Travelers should not visit any public place or come into contact with those who are not members of their household unit, Sisolak added.

The governor also encouraged Nevadans to avoid non-essential travel during this time period as well, especially to places where the CDC has issued travel advisories.

He said Tuesday’s advisory does not apply to healthcare, public health, public safety, transportation, and food supply essential employees.

For more information on the advisory, visit nvhealthresponse.nv.gov.

Walmart to start doing employee temperature checks

Walmart will start checking the temperature of employees who come to work as part of measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the company announced on Tuesday.

Associates who register a temperature of 100 degrees will be paid for reporting to work but will be sent home, according to Walmart. Employees will be advised to seek medical help if necessary and will not be able to return to work unless they have been free of a fever for at least three days.

“Many associates have already been taking their own temperatures at home, and we’re asking them to continue that practice as we start doing it on-site,” the company said in a prepared statement. “And we’ll continue to ask associates to look out for other symptoms of the virus (coughing, feeling achy, difficulty breathing) and never come to work when they don’t feel well.”

The infrared thermometers should arrive at all stores within three weeks. Walmart will also send masks to its stores within the next two weeks for associates who would like to use them. The masks will not be N95 respirators, which are reserved for at-risk healthcare workers, the company said.

Southern Nevada launching notifications of risk to people who have traveled to hot spots

11:40 a.m.

LAS VEGAS – Southern Nevada health officials are launching a text message and email notification system to notify people who have traveled to areas where COVID-19 transmission is widespread – or are close contacts of someone who tested positive.

The Southern Nevada Health District’s system allows people exposed to the virus but are at lower risk to get a notification and take steps to monitor their health and self-quarantine, officials said in a press release Tuesday.

“When a person receives an alert, they are advised based on their specific circumstances to monitor their symptoms and, if applicable, self-quarantine for 14 days,” the release said. “The system provides links to instructions, the declaration of quarantine, and resources for individuals.”

Details about whether Nevada residents must sign up for the notifications have not been released.

Dr. Vit Kraushaar, a medical investigator with the Southern Nevada Health District, said the new system will help the district reach those who may have had contact with a positive case more quickly.

"This serves as an additional tool to be able to reach out to these individuals quickly," Kraushaar said.

It sometimes takes more than a week to reach close contacts based on how long it takes for test results to come back, Kraushaar said.

He added that he wants the public in Southern Nevada to know these emails and text messages are legitimate, especially since scammers have been trying to take advantage of the crisis.

We don’t want people to be surprised when they receive these notifications," he said.

Dr. Fermin Leguen, acting chief health officer at SNHD, is expecting to answer questions about the system at 1 p.m. Tuesday.

2nd person tests positive in Nye County

11:10 a.m.

A second person has tested positive for COVID-19 in Nye County, according to a press release.

This person is a man in his 40s who lives in Amargosa Valley. Their positive test was confirmed through a private clinic and they are self-quarantining at home, according to the release.

Officials are working to trace this person’s prior contacts.

Douglas County reports 6th case

10:24 a.m.

One new case of coronavirus has been reported in Douglas County, bringing the total there to six.

This is the 12th COVID-19 case reported in the Carson City Health and Human Services jurisdiction, which covers Carson City and Lyon, Douglas and Storey counties.

So far, Carson City has five cases; Douglas County has six cases; and Lyon County has one case. Storey County does not yet have any cases.

Officials approve construction of $3 million patient care facility in Las Vegas

10:01 a.m.

LAS VEGAS – Public health authorities in Southern Nevada have approved the building of a $3 million patient care facility to provide extra beds for patients suffering with COVID-19.

Unanimously approved at an emergency Southern Nevada District Board of Health meeting Monday morning, the 7,200-square-foot facility will include 40 isolated bed pods monitored by SNHD employees, temporary staff and volunteers.

The annex is planned for a plot near the Southern Nevada Health District, 280 S. Decatur, Las Vegas. The space is meant for patients transitioning out of a hospital stay or people in the homeless and assisted living communities who need isolation, according to Dr. Fermin Leguen, chair of SNHD.

Clark County Commissioner Marilyn Kirkpatrick said it costs up to $1,000 a day to quarantine certain patients.

Under President Donald Trump’s March 13 national emergency declaration, the Federal Emergency Management Agency was granted authority to approve sheltering annexes for the duration of the emergency.

The total cost of the annex would be $3 million. FEMA would reimburse 75 percent of that cost, leaving SNHD's portion between $750,000 and $800,000.

8 more deaths in Clark County; statewide total at 26

8:44 a.m.

Eight more people have died of COVID-19 in Clark County and the number of known cases there has increased to 869, according to new figures released by the Southern Nevada Health District.

That brings the total number of deaths statewide to 26. Fifteen people had previously died of the disease in Clark County and three people have died in Washoe County.

The number of known cases in Clark County increased by 116, up from 753 on Monday.

Statewide, there are 1,113 Nevadans who have tested positive for coronavirus. It’s likely the true number of people with the disease is much higher than that, as testing shortages has limited the number of people tested.

1,113 known cases of COVID-19 in Nevada

7:31 a.m.

The number of known COVID-19 patients in Nevada has risen to 1,113, according to the Nevada Health Alliance Dashboard. The number of deaths remains at 18.

It’s unknown where the new cases are in the state, as their location is not reported.

So far, 11,794 people have been tested statewide.

More: More than half of Reno-Sparks conventions canceled or postponed, RSCVA facing steep cuts

Officials to push for opening of $3M Vegas care facility annex

Tuesday, March 31, 6:00 a.m.

LAS VEGAS – The Southern Nevada District Board of Health is holding an emergency meeting Tuesday morning to push for the opening of a $3 million alternate care facility annex.

The annex would open at the Southern Nevada Health District, 280 S. Decatur, Las Vegas.

Under President Donald Trump’s March 13 national emergency declaration, the Federal Emergency Management Agency was granted authority to approve sheltering annexes for the duration of the emergency.

The 7,200-square-foot would allow for the addition of 30 hospital beds, according to renderings attached to the board of health’s proposal.

The total cost of the annex would be $3 million. FEMA would reimburse 75 percent of that cost, leaving the Southern Nevada Health District’s portion between $750,000 and $800,000.

The emergency meeting is set for 9 a.m. Tuesday. All Southern Nevada District Board of Health members will be participating by conference call.

Monday

Washoe County reports two more deaths

The Washoe County Health District reported Tuesday a third person has died from the coronavirus.

The third death follows the news that a 47-year-old man and a woman in her 30s both have died.

Bruce McAllister, 47, was the first man to die locally of COVID-19.

The Washoe County Health District reported the woman in her 30s had an underlying medical condition.

The district also announced 10 new positive test results Monday, bringing the county total to 121. The actual number of coronavirus cases in the county is unknown due to limited testing.

Ten people in Washoe County have recovered from the illness.

The total number of known Nevadan’s who’ve tested positive for COVID-19 has crested 1,000, with the Nevada Health Alliance dashboard saying Monday there are now 1,008 cases.

So far, 11,215 people have been tested.

Local politicians pleaded Monday for people to stay home.

"There's still too many people out and about for unnecessary reasons," said Arlen Melendez, chairman of the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony.

"We are beyond being inconvenienced," Washoe County Commission Chairman Bob Lucey said. "This threat is real and this threat continues to grow. If you didn’t think you needed to stay home before, let me be clear: You need to stay home."

First positive test for member of Washoe's homeless population

Washoe County has confirmed its first positive coronavirus test for a member of the homeless population.

The Washoe County Health District said the person had been sheltered at the Downtown Events Center and also accessed services at the Record Street shelter prior to the diagnosis.

The individual was being discharged from a local hospital Monday morning and placed in quarantined housing, Washoe County public information officer Adam Mayberry said.

All individuals who spend the night at the new homeless shelter at the Downtown Events Center are screened for such things as a cough or a fever, said Pat Cashell, director of the Volunteers for America-run shelter. One individual recently was found to have a high fever and was quarantined appropriately at the Record Street location, Cashell said. That person, however, tested positive for strep throat.