Editor s note: This story is part of the Reno Gazette Journal’s essential COVID-19 coverage and is being provided for free. Please consider subscribing to the RGJ to support our work.
Minorities in Washoe County are being vaccinated against COVID-19 at a lower rate than their share of the population, with Hispanics and Latinos experiencing an especially large disparity in the numbers.
Preliminary data received by the Reno Gazette Journal through a public records request with the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services and the Washoe County Health District show that vaccine equity is an issue in Reno-Sparks and surrounding areas. The data includes shots administered by the health district and partners such as Renown Health and Community Health Alliance.
Nevada will soon be unpaused.
Citing a weeks long decline in new COVID cases and deaths, Gov. Steve Sisolak on Thursday announced he would gradually end a monthslong “pause” on economic activity meant to slow the virus’ deadly resurgence over the holidays.
Eased restrictions on restaurants, bars, churches and gyms are set to take effect on Monday, including a 10 percent jump in permissible casino capacity. Youth and adult sports tournaments, along with gatherings up to 250 people, are tentatively scheduled to resume March 15 two days shy of the one-year anniversary of the state’s first virus-related shutdown order.
Sisolak later announced plans to turn over the bulk of ongoing virus-containment efforts to local officials by May 1, but said the state would continue to play a role in supporting city and county health officials. He said statewide protocols will remain in place to mitigate the virus spread, including but not limited to mask-wearing and social distancin
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A new call center is available for Nevadans to make vaccination appointments or answer any questions. Ensuring equity is the cornerstone of vaccination efforts in our state, said Julia Peek, Deputy Administrator of Community Health Services, in a press briefing Wednesday morning.
Editor s note: Reno Gazette Journal Executive Editor Brian Duggan is married to CHA spokeswoman Megan Duggan, who is included in this article. Brian Duggan did not edit or consult on this article. Investigations Editor Anjeanette Damon led the editing process.
With the demand for COVID-19 vaccines dwarfing the supply of doses coming to the state, Gov. Steve Sisolak’s administration released a detailed playbook directing that shots go first to those who need them most. As state and local agencies work feverishly to vaccinate Nevadans, however, it turns out that no one is actually monitoring whether that same playbook is being followed.