Clark County’s COVID-19 activity level moved farther into the “high” range Tuesday, further pushing back the timeline for school reopening, according to the latest data reported by public health officials.
The activity level rose to 86.18 as Clark County Public Health reported 32 new COVID-19 cases and one new fatality, a woman age 80 or older with no underlying conditions.
The fatality brings the total number of deaths from COVID-19 to 56 to date. The new cases brings the county’s total number of cases to 3,457 to date.
The number of active cases, which counts people who tested positive for COVID-19 still in their 10-day isolation period, was 124 on Tuesday. There were 24 people hospitalized with COVID-19 and four people hospitalized awaiting test results.
The COVID-19 activity level index, which counts the number of new cases per 100,000 over 14 days, moved into the “high” range last week when it crossed the threshold of 75 and reached 76.15.
In previous weeks, the activity level had remained in the “moderate” range but was rising slowly, from 63.05 on Aug. 31 to 64.07 on Sept. 7 and 69.4 on Sept. 14.
Under state Department of Health guidelines, schools in counties where the transmission rate is above 75 new cases per 100,000 people should keep classes online. Small groups of high-needs students, including those who are homeless or those with disabilities, may attend some classes.
Four elementary schools in the Evergreen Public Schools district recently began a pilot project bringing small groups of kindergartners into the classroom on a limited basis.
Clark County must remain in the “moderate” transmission level, between 50 and 75 cases per 100,000 residents, for three weeks before Clark County Public Heath will recommend reopening for more students. That three-week countdown cannot start until the activity level returns to “moderate” levels.
