Message from Pershing County Health Officer, Dr. Kamin VanGuilder, MD

As of November 12th, Pershing County  has experienced a dramatic increase in COVID-19 cases. Currently, we have identified 44 positive cases of COVID-19. 20 of those within the last two weeks. There are many test results pending, so this number may continue to climb. Community members can track Pershing County’s COVID-19 statistics by visiting the Pershing County website’s COVID-19 Information Page or by visiting the NV Health Response website.

All the members of the Pershing County and City of Lovelock community should be proud that we have been able to keep our numbers so low; however it is not the time to grow complacent. The surge in positive cases demonstrates that we need to get things under control and slow the spread now. Don’t let up the vigilance you’ve been keeping so well the past months.

During a press conference on November 10th, 2020, Governor Sisolak asked Nevadans to operate in a “Stay at Home 2.0” mentality with the hope that we can slow the spread of COVID-19 enough to allow our infrastructure to catch up. Hospitals in the Reno/Sparks area are filling up and threaten to become overwhelmed. It was also reported on the same day in the Reno/Gazette journal that “crisis protocol are in place to evaluate who may get treatment and who would go without because of factors, such as age, that would make a person less likely to survive.” This type of healthcare rationing would be tragic for patients and healthcare personnel, but it is a real possibility if the case counts continue to rise.

Here’s what you can do to help:

1. Please stay at home as much as possible over the next two weeks.
2. If you are around anyone you do not live with, please wear a mask so that it covers your nose and your mouth.
3. Practice social distancing.
4. Wash your hands thoroughly and often.
5. If you are sick, stay at home.
6. If you are sick at home and cannot isolate to a single room, please wear a mask.

We must work together to slow the spread of this virus. Please do your part to keep our families, friends, and co-workers safe.

Respectfully,

Kamin VanGuilder, MD
Pershing County Health Officer

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