At their regular meeting last week, members of the Central Nevada Health District continued work to approve resolutions and implement the activities of the District in Churchill and surrounding member counties, including Mineral, Pershing, and Eureka.
The board, made up of members from each community, includes Chairman and Mayor of Fallon Ken Tedford, Vice-Chair and Mineral County Commissioner Cassie Hall, Social Services Director for Churchill County Shannon Ernst, Churchill County Manager Jim Barbee, Pershing County Commissioner Larry Rackley, CEO of Mt. Grant Hospital Denise Ferguson, Churchill County Commissioner Dr. Justin Heath, Lovelock Dr. Tyson McBride, and City of Fallon Chief of Staff Bob Erickson, approved minutes from the last three meetings where the primary task was to approve resolutions governing invasive body decoration establishments, mobile home and recreational vehicle parks, public swimming pools and spas, and food establishments among the many other tasks the district has taken over from the State Health Department.
The board will also assume responsibility for infectious and communicable diseases, maternal and child health and family planning, and environmental health services within the communities belonging to the district.
The board also addressed an Interlocal Agreement during the June 8 meeting with the State of Nevada for oversight of the Burning Man event that will provide for the state to continue covering Burning Man this year and then, during the 2024 year, work closely together to turn over regulations and environmental health to the district.
During the June 29 meeting, Shannon Ernst introduced new staff members, Tiandra Rushing, the Public Health Preparedness Manager, along with Rita Smyth, Grant and Clerical Specialist, and the board approved the contract for Eureka County to become a member of the district. The board also appointed Dr. Tedd McDonald as the District Health Officer.
Last week Daren Winkelman, the Environment Health Manager, reported on the agreement between the District and Immunize Nevada for a partnership to provide child immunizations services for back-to-school events throughout the district communities.
The board also provided a final signature page for the bylaws. It approved an agreement for the State Immunization Program for a pass-through grant from the Center for Disease Control for $100,666 to cover the personnel, travel, and indirect costs to provide vaccines for young people throughout the district.
The board also heard a report from McDonald, who said he receives a daily list of positive covid numbers for the communities, showing an increase in cases across the country for the past couple of weeks but no increase in hospitalizations. “There were 4,700 people hospitalized for covid this week across the U.S. as compared to 44,000 at this time last year,” he said.
In addition, he reported that there have been malaria outbreaks in Texas and Florida, an increased rate of measles, and a warning issued for tick bite prevention in the Midwest and West. Due to high summer temperatures, there has also been an increase in algae blooms in many lakes and slow-moving waterways throughout the country. Health Advisory Notices regarding the algae blooms can be found on the CDC website for more information on detection, effects, symptoms, and treatments.
McDonald also reported that the district lab was inspected on July 27, and he commended Veronica Brandenburg and Desi Reeves for their organization and high levels of testing competency during the inspection.
Approved in August of 2022, CNHD was developed by Churchill, Eureka, Mineral, Pershing, and the City of Fallon based on the belief that local communities can provide the best services for their populations. An 11-member board governs the CNHD with two representatives from each community and an appointed doctor. The district offers public health nursing, disease prevention services, preparedness, disease surveillance, and environmental health and food safety.
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