Southern Nevada Health District COVID-19 Update

BA.2 variant detected in Clark County

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
January 28, 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.

BA.2 Variant detected in Clark County

The Southern Nevada Health District confirmed the first reported case of COVID-19 caused by the BA.2 subvariant of the Omicron variant. The Southern Nevada Public Health Laboratory tested the specimen and is continuing to provide genome sequencing of a sampling of positive COVID-19 cases to determine the presence of variants in the community.

The individual who tested positive is a fully vaccinated and boosted female in her 40s. She was not hospitalized and reported traveling out of the country.

Based on current information about the BA.2 variant, there is no evidence that it causes more severe disease than the original Omicron variant. It is expected that new variants will occur. Reducing disease transmission through vaccination is one of the best ways to slow the emergence of new variants.

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.

COVID Treatment

This week, the Southern Nevada Health District expanded the availability of the COVID-19 oral medication, Paxlovid, to include individuals age 12 – 64 with a positive COVID-19 test who are at higher risk for severe illness. People in this group must be tested at the Health District’s 280 S. Decatur Blvd. location and also have symptoms of COVID-19, those symptoms must have started within the last five days and must meet the criteria for taking this medication. The treatment continues to be available to symptomatic people age 65 and older. The medication is available for free.

A complete list of conditions included in the criteria is available on the Health District’s website at www.snhd.info/paxlovid.

The Health District initially received 120 treatment courses of Paxlovid and began offering the treatment on Friday, January 21. This treatment is an option that can be offered to people early in their infection to prevent complications and deaths. The Health District has ordered additional treatment courses.

Vaccines for Moderately to Severely Immunocompromised People

People who are immunocompromised are more vulnerable to COVID-19. People ages 5 and older who are moderately or severely immunocompromised who received the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine should get an additional primary shot of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine after 28 days of receiving their second shot. People ages 18 and older who are moderately or severely immunocompromised who received either the Moderna or Pfizer BioNTech vaccine should get an additional primary shot after 28 days of receiving their second shot.

In October, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended immunocompromised people 12 years of age and older get booster doses. The booster dose is recommended five months after receiving the additional primary dose of the vaccine.

COVID-19 Testing

 Testing is now available from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays at the Clark County Fairgrounds, 1301 Whipple Ave., Logandale, NV 89021. Appointments are preferred, but walk-ins are accepted if capacity allows. Additional information is available: www.snhd.info/covid-testing.

Drive thru testing

As of Thursday, January 27, Texas Station and Fiesta Henderson sites have administered more than 25,300 COVID-19 tests.

Drive-thru testing site appointments at the Fiesta Henderson and Texas Station locations 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.

The Fiesta Henderson testing site is located at 777 W. Lake Mead Parkway. It is open Saturday through Wednesday, 12 p.m. – 8 p.m. Appointments are required at this site.

The Texas Station testing site is located 2101 Texas Star Lane and operates Wednesday through Sunday, 12 p.m. – 8 p.m. Appointments and drive-ups are accepted at this location.

For more information, a list of additional Health District and community partner 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.

COVID-19 Cases

As of January 27, 469,239 cases of COVID-19 have been reported in Clark County, an increase of 2,566 cases over the previous day. The Health District is also reporting the seven-day moving average of 2,245 new positive cases as of January 24. A total of 6,866 Clark County residents have died from COVID-19. The full report is available at www.snhd.info/covid-cases.

While current trends are encouraging, the Health District continues to urge people to use the tools they have available to help protect themselves and others. People should be up to date on their COVID-19 vaccines, wear well-fitting masks in public indoor or crowded settings, and get tested if they have symptoms of COVID-19.

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.

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

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.

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.

COVID-19 Pediatric Doses

As of January 26, more than 40,800 children between the ages of 5 and 11 have received their initial COVID-19 vaccine dose in Clark County and more than 25,200 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 27, 2022:

• Total Doses Reported Administered: 3,337,564

Total Vaccinations Reported Initiated: 1,643,114

• Percent initiated vaccination:
  • Overall: 70.88%
  • 18 years and older: 84.61%
  • 5 years and older: 73.65%
• Total Vaccinations Reported Completed: 1,327,872
  • Overall: 57.28%
  • 18 years and older: 69.11%
  • 5 years and older 18%

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

COVID-19 after Vaccination

As of January 27, the Health District has received reports of 59,670 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 483 cases out of every 10,000 fully vaccinated people whereas the number of cases in unvaccinated is 3,763 out of every 10,000 unvaccinated. The Health District is reporting a total of 307 deaths that have occurred in fully vaccinated Clark County residents. This represents 2.4 deaths per 10,000 fully vaccinated people whereas the number of deaths among unvaccinated people is 60 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.