FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
February 2, 2021

Five additional cases of the new B.1.1.7 coronavirus strain have been detected in Clark County. These five cases are all close contacts of the first case that was announced on January 25, 2021. These specimens were collected by Southern Nevada Public Health Laboratory (SNPHL) and sent to the Nevada State Public Health Laboratory for sequencing and confirmation.

The five Clark County residents who tested positive include two females and three males. The two females are both under the age of 18. One of the males is an adult in his 30s, and the other two are both under the age of 18. All five of the patients have recovered, and none had reports of recent travel history.

The B.1.1.7 strain is thought to spread more easily but is not believed to cause more severe illness or increase the risk of death. The vaccines currently being used will still provide protection against the variants of the virus.

Additional information about new COVID-19 vaccine is available on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/transmission/variant.html. More information about COVID-19, including case updates, vaccination clinics, and available resources is available on the Health District 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.