Nevada reports 28 additional deaths from coronavirus

Nevada reported 28 additional COVID-19-related deaths Tuesday, the highest single-day total since the start of the pandemic, bringing the statewide total to 676 deaths.

Caleb Cage, the state's pandemic response chief, said the spike could be caused by delays in reporting over weekends and didn't mean that 28 Nevada residents had passed away in a day's time, up from one reported Monday.

"Typically, we see low numbers reported on Sunday and Monday and an increase on Tuesday," he said.

After weeks of experiencing a steady rise in the number of new cases reported daily, Nevada is experiencing a corresponding increase in its death toll. The number of fatalities averaged over a seven-day period has increased in the state throughout July.

Cage said 70% of hospital beds, 69% of ICU beds and 39% of ventilators were in use in Nevada.

In total, 37,528 people have tested positive for the virus in Nevada since the onset of the pandemic.

For most people, the virus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some — especially older adults and people with existing health problems — it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death. The vast majority recover.