There’s new data on Nevada’s COVID-19 dashboard. Here’s what it means, why it’s important – Reno Gazette Journal

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The state has added a number of new charts, graphs and other data points to its online COVID-19 dashboard, greatly increasing the amount of information publicly available to Nevadans.

Some of those new graphs are just new ways to visualize data that was already available like three new charts displaying how many people weretested on a given day, how many tested positiveand how many people died but others are entirely new, and answer some pressing questions about the coronavirus pandemic in Nevada.

A chart showing the cumulative number of cases in Nevada and how many people tested positive on a given day.(Photo: Nevada Health Alliance)

The charts featuring new information there's three of them pertain to the growth rates of Nevada's COVID-19 cases and related deaths, hospitalizations and capacity, and the state's cumulative positivity rate.

But what does all this new information mean, and why's it important?

The Reno Gazette Journal asked the Nevada Health Alliance to explain the new information on its dashboard. Kyra Morgan, Nevada's state biostatistician, sent an explanation of the new data.

Charts showing the daily growth rate of new COVID-19 cases and deaths.(Photo: Nevada Health Alliance)

Wondering how quickly COVID-19 is spreading in Nevada? This tab on the dashboard is for you.

These two charts, one for cases and one for deaths, represent the amount cases and deaths have grown over time.

"The growth rate of COVID-19 may change over time due to actual changes in the growth, or for reasons such as implementation of new testing strategies or changes to control measures that are in place," Morgan wrote in an email to the RGJ.

As the state works to slow the growth of the virus, progress can be seen in these charts.

Charts on the Nevada Health Alliance dashboard showing confirmed and suspected COVID-19 hospitalizations.(Photo: Nevada Health Alliance)

These charts, fueled by data from the Nevada Hospital Association, shows how taxed the state's healthcare system is by COVID-19.

This data, specifically if the trend of hospitalizations is decreasing,was one of the metrics used by the governor's office to determine if the state could move into phase 1 of reopening.

Ventilator use, the number of COVID-19 patients currently in the ICU and day-over-day changes in hospitalizations are also measured here.

Hospitalizations, ICU bed use and ventilator use all were on a relatively downward trajectory, but appear to betrending back up as ofMay 9, the day phase 1 reopening began.

It's not clear what metrics will be used to determine if the state is ready for phase 2 of reopening, thoughGov. Steve Sisolak said phase 1 would likely last until the end of the month.

A chart showing Nevada's test positivity rate compared against the World Health Organization's maximum positivity rate recommended before reopening.(Photo: Nevada Health Alliance)

Another metric the governor's office used to enter phase 1 of reopening, a chart measuring Nevada's test positivity rate is now available on the Nevada Health Alliance dashboard.

This chart shows the percentage of people who tested positive on a given dayout of the total number of people tested that day.

"In general, if a high percentage of tests are coming back positive, that is indicative that there are many more cases that have gone undetected," Morgan explained.

Right now, this chart paints a good picture of Nevada's fight against COVID-19.

"Nevada'sdata shows that as we expand testing, the test positivity rate goes down," Morgan wrote."We have seen a significant decline in this measure since April 25."

The chart also compares Nevada's positivity rate against the maximum positivity rate recommended by the World Health Organization before an area reopens.

Nevada dipped below the WHO's maximum recommended rate of 10 percentfor the first time on May 11.

Visitdhcfp.nv.gov/covid19/and click on the "COVID-19 Data Dashboard" link to see the dashboard.

Sam Gross is a breaking news reporter for the Reno Gazette Journal who covers wildfires, emergencies and more. Support his work by subscribing to RGJ.com.

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There's new data on Nevada's COVID-19 dashboard. Here's what it means, why it's important - Reno Gazette Journal