FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
February 18, 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.

COVID-19 Testing

The drive-thru site at Texas Station, 101 Texas Star Lane off Rancho Drive, last day of operation is Sunday, February 20. To date, the site has administered more than 15,400 tests.

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. Drive-ups are accepted at this location.

The drive-thru site at UNLV’s Sam Boyd Stadium also will be closed this Sunday and will resume operations Monday through Thursday. The last day of operations for the Sam Boyd site, which offers drive-thru COVID-19 testing and vaccinations, will be Thursday, March 10.

The Sam Boyd Stadium drive-thru site offers COVID-19 vaccinations and tests five nights a week, Sunday through Thursday, 5:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. No appointments are necessary. Tests and vaccinations are available on a first-come, first-served basis depending on daily supplies and staffing. The site is operated by Clark County, Nevada National Guard, the Health District in partnership with UNLV and others. The site, which began operations in August outside UNLV’s Stan Fulton building on East Flamingo Road, has administered about more than 49,900 COVID-19 tests and 4,400 vaccinations since operations began last summer.

Clark County Commissioner Tick Segerblom, the Health District and other community partners are hosting free, drive-thru COVID-19 testing on Saturday, Feb. 26, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the parking lot of Winchester Dondero Cultural Center, 3130 McLeod Drive, near Desert Inn Road and Eastern Avenue.

Commissioner Segerblom is partnering with the Clark County Law Foundation and Lutheran Social Services to host the event with support from the Health District. Appointments can be booked via the Health District’s website at www.snhd.info/covid-testing. Appointments are highly recommended, though some walk-ins will be accommodated while supplies last.

The Health District offers free COVID-19 tests and vaccinations at several community sites listed on its website. Other locations offering tests and vaccinations, including local pharmacies, also can be found at www.nvcovidfighter.org.

COVID Treatment

The antiviral medications Paxlovid and Molnupiravir are available to patients who meet the criteria 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 ages 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 the Health District’s public health center to be evaluated and provided with the treatment, if indicated, or they can speak to their health care 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.

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 17, a total of 485,948 cases of COVID-19 have been reported in Clark County, an increase of 414 cases over the previous day. The Health District is also reporting the seven-day moving average of 245.7 new positive cases as of February 14. A total of 7,333 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 17, more than 44,800 children between the ages of 5 and 11 have received their initial COVID-19 vaccine dose in Clark County and more than 32,900 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 18:

• Total Doses Reported Administered: 3,406,502

Total Vaccinations Reported Initiated: 1,667,989

• Percent initiated vaccination:
  • Overall: 71.95%
  • 18 years and older: 85.65%
  • 5 years and older: 74.79%

• Total Vaccinations Reported Completed: 1,342,492
  • Overall: 57.91%
  • 18 years and older: 69.47%
  • 5 years and older 59.85%

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

COVID-19 after Vaccination

As of February 17, the Health District has received reports of 66,981 fully vaccinated individuals testing positive for COVID-19. This represents 528 cases out of every 10,000 fully vaccinated people in Clark County. The Health District is reporting a total of 427 deaths that have occurred in fully vaccinated Clark County residents. This represents 3 deaths per 10,000 fully vaccinated people. Among unvaccinated people, there have been 3,991 cases of breakthrough COVID-19 out of every 10,000 unvaccinated individuals and the number of deaths is 68 per 10,000 unvaccinated people.

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.