LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — Today, Nevada COVID-19 Response Director Caleb Cage, and Health Bureau Chief for the Bureau of Child, Family, and Community Wellness Candice McDaniel, were joined by the Director of the Nevada Department of Wildlife Tony Wasley.
They provided updates on Nevada’s ongoing COVID-19 response, testing, reporting, and vaccination efforts.
As of today, Nevada has had 284,590 cases of COVID-19, with the 14-day rolling average of daily cases being 756.
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Nevada has now completed a total of 2,557,768 molecular tests since the beginning of COVID-19.
The test positivity rate over the last 14 days is 15.5%.
The Nevada Hospital Association (NHA) reports Nevada is continuing to see a downward trajectory in hospitalizations.
The NHA is also reporting there are currently 964 COVID-19 hospitalizations (872 confirmed; 92 suspected).
As of Feb. 7, 348,025 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered and reported to NV WebIZ.
More than 67,000 Nevadans have completed vaccination, meaning they have received both doses.
Nevada Department of Wildlife says as the COVID-19 pandemic took center stage residents in Nevada and across the country turned to nature as never before seen.
Nationally, the number of people turning to nature was so high, a national campaign #ResponsibleRecreation was launched to guide outdoor recreationists in social distancing, mask-wearing, and hand washing.
Hikers, birdwatchers, campers, hunters, anglers, and more sought Nevada’s open spaces and wild places in unprecedented numbers as sales of outdoor equipment outpaced inventory and manufacturing capacity for equipment like kayaks, binoculars, and fishing supplies.
For 2020, the Nevada Department of Wildlife realized a 12% increase in hunting license sales and a 25% in fishing license sales.
In the first five weeks of 2021, the Department is 20% ahead of last year’s numbers at the same time.
Authorities say money generated from residents seeking solace in Nevada’s outdoors is helping to buoy local economies, especially in some rural locations that are particularly dependent on outdoor-related recreation.
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Outdoor recreation-based license sales are the primary source of funding for wildlife conservation activities in Nevada and increased funding translates directly to enhanced conservation.
An analysis of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act showed conservation investments generate 15 to 33 jobs per million dollars and an economic return of $2.40 for every $1 invested.
