Lyon County has been notified by the COVID-19 Mitigation and Management Task Force that Lyon County has been flagged for having an elavated risk of transmission of Covid - 19. Lyon County Manager Jeff Page along with Commission Chair Keller, Public Health Officer Robin Titus, MD, South Lyon Medical Center, Carson City Health and Human Services, City of Fernley and City of Yerington met with the Task Force on August 27, 2020.
Lyon County was informed that it lagged in 2 of the 3 criteria adopted by the State of Nevada.
A county is flagged for elevated disease transmission if it meets two of the three criteria:
1. Average number of tests per day (per 100,000) < 150.
The average number of molecular tests conducted in the most recent complete two week period in a county, divided by the number of people living in the county. This number is then multiplied by 100,000 to control for varying populations in counties. Due to reporting delay, this is reported over a 14-day period with a 7-day lag. Counties that average fewer than 150 tests per day will meet this criterion. Lyon County’s Average was 67.9
2. Case rate (per 100,000) > 200.
The total number of cases diagnosed and reported over a 30-day period divided by the number of people living in the county. This number is then multiplied by 100,000 to control for varying populations in counties. Counties with a case rate greater than 200 per 100,000 will meet this criterion. Lyon County’s case rate was 106.9
3. Case rate (per 100,000) > 50 AND testing positivity > 7.0%.
The total number of positive molecular tests divided by the total number of molecular tests conducted. This number is then multiplied by 100 to get a percentage. Due to reporting delay (which may be different between positive and negative tests), this is reported over a 14-day period with a 7-day lag. Counties with a test positivity > 7.0% paired with case rate greater than 50 per 100,000 will meet this criterion. Lyon County’s testing positivity was 7.4%
Lyon County was requested to prepare and submit a Jurisdictional Assessment and Action Plan to the Task Force on or before September 2, 2020 at 5:00 PM. Currently no additional restrictions have been placed on Lyon County or the two cities. A continued elevation of risk could result in stronger restrictions. Lyon County strongly urges the public and businesses to follow the established protocols
* Wearing a mask/face covering in public
* Six feet social distancing
* Proper sanitation
* No gatherings of 50 or more people.
* Be tested for COVID-19 at any one of the Quad County Drive Thru events or at any of our Community Health Nurse locations http://dpbh.nv.gov/Programs/ClinicalCN/Locations/Rural_Community_Health_Services_Locations/
Lyon County has already taken action to cancel events on county properties that would have 50 or more people as well as implemented policies to protect our employees and the public. Lyon County anticipates that our citizens and visitors are taking proper procedures to reduce the transmission of COVID-19. Lyon County’s first choice is to inform its citizens of state requirements and take enforcement action only when all other options have failed.
Lyon County is a partner with the Quad County (Carson, Douglas, Lyon And Storey) Health Care Coalition. The Quad County is coordinating and collaborating with Carson City Health and Human Services to conduct testing, tracing and supporting our communities through this pandemic. Their web site provides valuable and up-to-date information on the response and recovery to the pandemic. Please check the information out at https://gethealthycarsoncity.org/novel-coronavirus-2019/
Lyon County staff and our partners will be working to complete the assessment and action plan for the Task Forces review next week and will continue to work with the State to reduce the impacts of the pandemic.