FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
February 11, 2022

Following is the Southern Nevada Health District’s weekly summary of COVID-19 data and new or updated information about COVID-19 clinics and resources.

Nevada Mask Mandate

Nevada’s mask mandate was lifted on Thursday, February 10. While masks are no longer required in public indoor places, the Health District continues to encourage people to use all the tools they have available to protect themselves and others while disease transmission remains high in the community.

Everyone should get fully vaccinated, get a booster when eligible, and stay home when they are sick. While there is no longer a mask mandate in place, masks are proven to be effective at protecting people and lowering the risk of disease transmission. We encourage people to wear well-fitting masks in public indoor spaces for additional protection while disease transmission is high, especially if they are unvaccinated or more at-risk for severe illness from COVID-19.

COVID-19 Testing

The Southern Nevada Health District testing calendar now includes a feature that allows people to see the number of appointments available at many Health District clinics when they visit the site to make an appointment or view the clinic listings.

The testing site at the Clark County Fairgrounds has relocated to the Clark County Community Center in Overton at 320  N. Moapa Valley Blvd., Overton, NV 89040. Testing continues Mondays and Wednesdays from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Look for the blue van in the parking lot. Appointments are preferred, but walk-ins are accepted if capacity allows. Additional information is available: www.snhd.info/covid-testing.

Drive thru testing

The drive-thru site at Texas Station, 101 Texas Star Lane off Rancho Drive, continues to operate five days per week, Wednesday through Sunday, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Operations will continue until Sunday, February 20. Drive-ups are accepted at this location.

Drive-thru testing site appointments can be made on the eTrueNorth website at www.INeedaCOVID19Test.com. People who do not have access to a computer or who have difficulty making their appointments or accessing their test results can call eTrueNorth for assistance at (1-800) 635-8611.

For more information, a list of additional Health District and community partner testing sites, or to register, visitwww.snhd.info/covid-testing.

COVID Treatment

The Health District has a second antiviral treatment available to patients in its clinics. In addition to Paxlovid, patients who meet the criteria for treatment also have access to Molnupiravir. Both oral medications are available at the Health District’s 280 S. Decatur Blvd. public health center. Paxlovid continues to be available for people age 65 and older and people age 12 to 64 who are at risk for severe illness. Additionally, people must test positive for COVID-19 and must have had onset of symptoms within the last five days. Molnupiravir has similar indications for use but can only be used by those 18 years of age and older and is not indicated for use during pregnancy. People can either come to our 280 S Decatur Blvd. public health center to be evaluated and provided with the treatment, if indicated, or they can speak to their provider, who can evaluate them and if treatment is indicated, can provide a prescription, which can be filled at the 280 S. Decatur public health center. The treatments are free.

At this time, the Health District does not anticipate any shortages of these medications, and it has ordered additional treatment courses.

The Health District is not offering monoclonal antibodies at its clinic. To find a treatment center in Clark County, go to https://nvhealthresponse.nv.gov/find-covid-19-treatment/.

COVID-19 Cases 

As of February 10, a total of 483,830 cases of COVID-19 have been reported in Clark County, an increase of 559 cases over the previous day. The Health District is also reporting the seven-day moving average of 491.6 new positive cases as of January 31. A total of 7,195 Clark County residents have died from COVID-19. The full report is available at www.snhd.info/covid-cases.

Variants

The information about variants identified in Clark County reflects a sample of COVID-19 positive tests sequenced. They provide the Health District’s Office of Disease Surveillance and Control with information about variants that are circulating in the community.

The Health District recently confirmed the first reported case of COVID-19 caused by the Omicron BA.2 subvariant. Based on current information about the BA.2 variant, there is no evidence that it causes more severe disease than the original Omicron variant.

The Health District is urging people to protect themselves and others by getting fully vaccinated and a booster shot when they are eligible, wearing a well-fitting mask when in public indoor places, and by staying home and getting tested if they are sick.

In the past 30 days, the Health District identified the following variants in Clark County:

Reducing disease transmission through vaccination is one of the best ways to slow the emergence of new variants. Vaccines remain the most effective measure to protect against serious illness and hospitalization and to reduce the likelihood of new variants emerging.

More information about variants, including classifications and definitions, is available on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/variants/index.html.

COVID-19 Vaccination Status Report

The Health District follows the CDC’s guidelines and recommendations regarding use of COVID-19 vaccines, to include their most recent recommendation for the preferential use of the Pfizer BioNTech and Moderna vaccines over the Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine and the continued use of the J&J vaccine in those for whom the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines are not indicated or in those who prefer the J&J vaccine after being advised about any vaccine-associated risks.

The Health District recommends everyone 5 years and older get fully vaccinated, and everyone 12 years and older who is fully vaccinated gets a booster dose if they are eligible to protect themselves and others from COVID-19

COVID-19 Pediatric Doses

As of February 11, more than 43,600 children between the ages of 5 and 11 have received their initial COVID-19 vaccine dose in Clark County and more than 31,400 have completed their vaccine series.

The Pfizer BioNTech pediatric vaccine is available at the Health District’s main public health center, 280 S. Decatur Blvd. and its community clinic sites. Health District and community partner clinic listings and appointment access are available at www.snhd.info/covid-vaccine. Appointments are recommended but walk-ins are accepted.

The COVID-19 vaccine is the best way to protect children from getting COVID-19. Children may be at lower risk than adults of becoming seriously ill, but it is still possible. The vaccine is safe, effective and free.

Current Vaccine Update:

As of February 11:

• Total Doses Reported Administered: 3,388,275

Total Vaccinations Reported Initiated: 1,662,598

• Percent initiated vaccination:
  • Overall: 71.72%
  • 18 years and older: 85.44%
  • 5 years and older: 74.54%
• Total Vaccinations Reported Completed: 1,338,887
  • Overall: 57.76%
  • 18 years and older: 69.37%
  • 5 years and older 68%

Additional vaccination information is available at www.snhd.info/covid-cases.

COVID-19 after Vaccination

As of February 10, the Health District has received reports of 66,068 fully vaccinated individuals testing positive for COVID-19. In Clark County, the current number of cases of COVID-19 in people who are fully vaccinated represents 524 cases out of every 10,000 fully vaccinated people whereas the number of cases in unvaccinated is 3,950 out of every 10,000 unvaccinated. The Health District is reporting a total of 392 deaths that have occurred in fully vaccinated Clark County residents. This represents 3 deaths per 10,000 fully vaccinated people whereas the number of deaths among unvaccinated people is 64 out of every 10,000 unvaccinated.

The Health District’s COVID-19 breakthrough infection reports are available at: www.snhd.info/covid-breakthrough.

Additional resources, including vaccine and testing clinic sites information, are available on the Health District’s website at www.snhd.info/covid.

The Southern Nevada Health District serves as the local public health authority for Clark County, Boulder City, Henderson, Las Vegas, Mesquite and North Las Vegas. The agency safeguards the public health of the community’s residents and visitors through innovative programs, regulations, and initiatives focused on protecting and promoting their health and well-being. More information about the Health District, its programs, services, and the regulatory oversight it provides is available at www.SNHD.info. Follow the Health District on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.