The number of active COVID-19 cases in Clark County jumped significantly Thursday, according to Clark County Public Health.
Public Health said active COVID-19 cases rose from 183 people, reported Wednesday, to 240 people. Active cases are people with COVID-19 who are still in their isolation period.
The county also confirmed 68 new COVID-19 cases Thursday. With the new cases, Clark County’s total confirmed cases is 4,734 to date. No new deaths have been reported since Monday.
As of Thursday afternoon, Public Health had not updated its data for coronavirus cases linked to local schools.
Earlier this week, public schools in Clark County agreed to bring back kindergarten students for in-person learning in the coming weeks. The announcement comes as Clark County records its highest number of coronavirus cases — more than 1,200 so far in October — in one month.
Clark County Public Health Officer Dr. Alan Melnick has attributed the rise in cases to small, private gatherings, mostly attended by young adults.
The largest cohort of cases is in people in their 20s. Melnick has raised concerns that more hospitalizations will soon follow the surge in cases as young people spread the virus to older, more vulnerable populations.
The number of people hospitalized for the virus rose from 26 people hospitalized as of Wednesday to 27 people Thursday. Nine people awaiting test results. Hospitalizations have risen by 11 since Tuesday, when 16 people were receiving treatment at a local hospital for the virus.
“It may just be a matter of time before we start seeing more cases and deaths in older populations,” Melnick said at the Clark County Board of Health meeting Wednesday.
