Novel Coronavirus In Nevada: Tuesday, January 5, 2021
6:12 p.m. | January 5, 2021
Washoe County Reports 24 COVID-19-Related Deaths Since Start Of New Year
There have been two dozen COVID-19 deaths in Washoe County in just the first five days of the new year so far. More than 500 lives have been lost since the start of the pandemic in Washoe County, and more than 3,200 statewide.
Over the last two weeks, there have been an average of 1,600 new daily cases in Nevada and the test positivity rate remains high - at around 20% - and has for about a month.
There are nearly 1,900 patients hospitalized for confirmed or suspected COVID-19 in Nevada and 79% of staffed hospital beds are occupied.
Alaska entered its second phase (Phase 1b) of coronavirus vaccine distribution on Wednesday, allowing Alaskans aged 65 years or older to begin making appointments for vaccinations that will become available starting Monday.
Individuals in that age bracket are considered to be part of Tier 1 of Phase 1b, and became eligible to schedule appointments at noon on Wednesday.
But by about 12:25 p.m. Wednesday, no appointments for COVID-19 vaccination remained available.
Tessa Walker Linderman of the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services said in a late Wednesday afternoon media briefing that the lack of appointments was not an issue of the DHSS scheduling website being overrun, but the number of people trying to book appointments outnumbered the available vaccine providers at that time.
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