In The News: School of Public Health

Nevada recorded its deadliest month of the coronavirus pandemic in January.

Nevada reported eight additional coronavirus-related deaths Monday, concluding the state’s deadliest month of the pandemic.
As highly contagious coronavirus variants spread, health experts in the Mountain West and beyond are urging people to upgrade and double up their masks.

Though transmission is still high, COVID-19 spread is slowing down in Nevada.
It’s been a long and daunting year dealing with COVID-19 and all of the restrictions put in place to combat the virus. It’s left many with that pandemic fatigue we’ve talked about and asking “how long until this is all over”.

Nevada health officials are sending a message to federal agencies allocating COVID-19 vaccines to states: Show us your math.
The Mesquite to Moapa Democrats organization hosted a special guest at its meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 20th held over an online platform. Dr. Brian Labus, Assistant Professor of the School of Public Health at the University of Las Vegas, Nevada, spoke to the group about COVID-19 and the state’s response to it.
With a more contagious (and possibly more deadly) variant of the coronavirus spreading, people throughout the world are doubling down—and doubling up—on their masking efforts. Germany, France, and Austria, for example, now require medical-grade masks to be worn in public places such as grocery stores and while taking public transportation. However, the World Health Organization recommends non-medical cloth masks for people under the age of 60 who do not have underlying health conditions. And the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that only healthcare workers should be wearing medical-grade masks. So what is the correct mask to wear in 2021? The answer might be more than one, according to epidemiologists.

As COVID-19 has swept across Nevada, one east Las Vegas community has experienced the worst of it.

Nevada public health officials Sunday reported 1,194 new coronavirus cases and 15 additional deaths.

Almost three weeks after Las Vegas Valley firefighters became eligible for COVID-19 vaccination, some cities report more than half their workforce haven’t received their first dose, with hundreds declining the shot.

It’s going to be harder for tourists to avoid masks on their way to Las Vegas.