FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
January 14, 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.

Media Briefings

The Southern Nevada Health District will resume holding weekly media briefings on Wednesday, January 19 at 1 p.m. Access to the briefings will be available via:

URL: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7027591390

Meeting ID: 702 759 1390
Password: 1225

Join by phone:
+1 669 900 9128 US
Meeting ID: 702 759 1390
Password: 1225

COVID-19 Testing

Drive-thru testing

Due to increased testing demands, the Southern Nevada Health District and Clark County will open a second drive-thru testing location at Fiesta Henderson, 777 W. Lake Mead Parkway. The site opens at 3 p.m., Saturday, January 15 and will operate in the property’s parking garage. The Fiesta Henderson testing site will operate Saturday through Wednesday between 12 p.m. and 8 p.m. by appointment. This location will be open on Martin Luther King Day, Monday, January 17. Drive-ups will not be accepted.

As of Wednesday, January 12, drive-thru testing at Texas Station 2101 Texas Star Lane, is available between 12 p.m. and 8 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday. Drive-ups are not accepted at this location.

These locations will operate for 21 days. Appointments for both locations are required and can be made three days prior by visiting 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.

The Health District recently announced additional testing locations and expanded hours at its three College of Southern Nevada sites. For more information, a list of testing sites, or to register, visit: www.snhd.info/covid-testing.

The Health District encourages people to get tested at one of the community COVID testing sites rather than visiting a hospital emergency department for testing. With the current increase in COVID-19 cases and influenza season, it is important to keep emergency departments from becoming overwhelmed with individuals seeking COVID-19 testing.

Test Kits

The Southern Nevada Health District is among the community partners receiving COVID-19 self-test kits ordered by the State of Nevada’s Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Emergency Management. A distribution plan is in development. The Health District will provide additional updates about where and when kits will be available.

The self-test kits are a tool that people can use to determine their COVID-19 status and begin to take steps to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Self-test kit results are not reported to the Health District or the Nevada Division of Health and Human Services. Individuals who test positive should begin to self-isolate as well as notify their close contacts. Information about self-isolation and quarantine are available: www.snhd.info/covid-selftesting.

COVID-19 Cases

The Health District continues to report significant numbers of new COVID-19 cases in the community. As of January 13, 419,141 cases of COVID-19 have been reported in Clark County, an increase of 4,362 cases over the previous day. The Health District is also reporting the seven-day moving average of 3,554 new positive cases as of January 10. A total of 6,625 Clark County residents have died from COVID-19. The full report is available at www.snhd.info/covid-cases.

The increase in cases is being reported as the Omicron variant continues to become more prevalent and as people have attended social gatherings and return from holiday travel. The Health District is urging people to use the tools they have available to help protect themselves and others. In addition to getting fully vaccinated, people who are eligible should get a booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, wear well-fitting masks in public indoor or crowded settings, and get tested if they have symptoms of COVID-19.

The demand for testing is high at this time. The Health District has expanded testing locations to meet the current demand. However, people may experience longer wait times for services or be directed to another clinic site for services. Testing location information is available at www.snhd.info/covid-testing.

Variants

COVID-19 vaccines remain the most effective measure to protect against serious illness and hospitalization and to reduce the likelihood of new variants emerging. 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.

Variants of the virus that cause COVID-19 are tracked by the Health District, throughout the United States and globally by public health organizations.

The virus that causes COVID-19 is constantly changing, and the most effective way to prevent the spread and slow the emergence of new variants is to get vaccinated, get a booster when eligible, wear a mask in public indoor settings, practice good hand hygiene, and for people to stay home and get tested if they are sick or have symptoms of COVID-19 or have had contact with a confirmed or suspected case.

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.

The CDC continues to learn about COVID-19 variants and reports them as follows: Variants Being Monitored (VBM), which may include variants previously designated as Variants of Interest (VOI) or Variants of Concern (VOC), and Variants of High Consequence (VOHC).

Starting this week, variants reported in the past 30 days will not be reported as the majority of variants are not being identified. This information would be updated as necessary.

As of January 14, the Health District is reporting the following variants being monitored (VBM) in Clark County:

As of January 14, the Health District is reporting the following variants of concern (VOC) in Clark County:

COVID-19 Vaccination Status Report

The Southern Nevada Health District offers the Pfizer BioNTech and Moderna vaccines as well as  Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine. The Health District continues to follow the CDC’s guidelines and recommendations regarding use of these vaccines, to include their most recent recommendation for the preferential use of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines over the J&J 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.

COVID-19 Booster Doses:

Booster doses are now available for anyone 12 years of age and older. Children between the ages of 12 and 17 years should receive the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine as their booster dose five months after completing their primary vaccination series with this vaccine. For adults, they can receive the same vaccine originally provided as their booster dose or a different vaccine. Their booster dose should be provided five months after completing their primary series with either the Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines or two months after receiving their Johnson and Johnson vaccine.

In addition, the CDC recommends an additional, or third dose, of a vaccine in those 5 years of age and older who are moderately or severely immunocompromised. This third dose is available only for those who completed the primary vaccination series with either the Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines and should be administered 28 days after receipt of the second dose.

COVID-19 Pediatric Doses

As of January 13, more than 36,000 children between the ages of 5 and 11 have received their initial COVID-19 vaccine dose in Clark County and more than 20,000 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 January 14, 2022:

• Total Doses Reported Administered: 3,261,395

Total Vaccinations Reported Initiated: 1,623,908

• Percent initiated vaccination:
  • Overall: 70.05%
  • 18 years and older: 83.92%
  • 5 years and older: 72.76%
• Total Vaccinations Reported Completed: 1,315,058
  • Overall: 56.73%
  • 18 years and older: 68.74%
  • 5 years and older 58.59%

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

COVID-19 after Vaccination

As of January 13, the Health District has received reports of 39,101 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 324 cases out of every 10,000 fully vaccinated people whereas the number of cases in unvaccinated is 3,377 out of every 10,000 unvaccinated. The Health District is reporting a total of 270 deaths that have occurred in fully vaccinated Clark County residents. This represents 2 deaths per 10,000 fully vaccinated people whereas the number of deaths among unvaccinated people is 57 out of every 10,000 unvaccinated.

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

Clinic Locations

COVID-19 vaccine clinic hours at the Health District’s 280 S. Decatur Blvd. public health center are Monday and Friday, 6:15 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Tuesday through Thursday from 6:15 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Expanded hours at the main public health center are Monday and Friday from 5 p.m. – 8 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Clinic information and additional resources 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.