FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
March 4, 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.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently updated its framework for monitoring the level of COVID-19 in communities. The new recommendations are focused on minimizing severe disease, limiting strain on the health care system, and enabling those at highest risk to protect themselves against infection and severe disease.

The new framework moves beyond looking solely at cases and test positivity and now evaluates factors such as hospitalizations and hospital capacity to determine whether the level of COVID-19 and severe disease are low, medium or high in a community. It helps the community determine which prevention strategies at different points of an outbreak are needed to prevent disruptions from COVID, increase protection against severe disease and strained hospitals, and save lives. These metrics help individuals assess their own COVID-19 risk and determine if extra precautions such as masks are needed based on their location, health status and their own level of personal risk. Based on this new framework, Clark County is in the medium category.

Low, moderate, substantial and high community transmission levels determined by the former CDC framework are still reliable tools, and the Health District will continue to use them to assist with ramping down or ramping up the response to COVID.

The widespread availability of vaccines, testing, treatment options, high-quality masks, and a higher level of immunity among the population puts Clark County in a stronger position to protect the community against severe disease. However, the virus continues to circulate and the possibility of new variants still exists, so it remains important for people to continue to take steps to prevent COVID-19 from overwhelming hospitals and health care systems.

Trends

On February 28, the 7-day case count moving average was 78.9 which represents a 65 percent decrease compared to the 7-day case count moving average of 227.0 reported on February 15.  Summarizing the cases per day between February 22 and February 28 the case rate per 100,000 over the past 7 days is 31.7 which puts Clark County at moderate transmission using the former CDC community transmission metrics and well under the newly recommended less than 200 cases per 100,000 over the last 7 days using the new CDC framework.

On February 28, Clark County’s test positivity rate 7-day moving average was 5.5 percent which represents a 47 percent decrease compared to the 7-day moving average percent positivity rate of 10.4 percent reported on February 15, 2022.  The 7-day test positivity rate of 5.5 percent is well within the moderate transmission range (5-7.9%) under the former CDC guidance.

N95 Mask Program

The Health District is participating in the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Health Center COVID-19 N95 Mask Program through its Southern Nevada Community Health Center. The program provides any member of the community with up to three N95 respirators. People who would like to receive them can visit the main public health center at 280 S. Decatur Blvd. and request them at the front desk. The N95s are available while supplies last.

The Health District is also providing masks to community partners and service providers so they can be distributed to their clients.

COVID-19 Testing

Operations at the drive-thru site at UNLV’s Sam Boyd Stadium are ending on Thursday, March 10. The drive-thru site offers tests and COVID-19 vaccines Sunday through Thursday, 5:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. No appointments are necessary. The site is operated by Clark County, Nevada National Guard, the Southern Nevada Health District in partnership with UNLV and others.

Health District COVID-19 testing community sites are listed at www.snhd.info/covid-testing. Other locations offering tests and vaccinations, including local pharmacies, can be found at www.nvcovidfighter.org.

People seeking self-test kits can visit Immunize Nevada’s NV COVID Fighter website at https://www.nvcovidfighter.org/find-test.

COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics

Effective Wednesday, March 16, the Health District’s College of Southern Nevada vaccine clinics will be adjusting their hours and availability. There are no changes to the testing operations at these locations.

• CSN North Las Vegas
  3200 E. Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, NV 89030
  New hours, effective Wednesday, March 16: Monday — Friday, 12 p.m. — 4 p.m.
  Current hours: Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. — 5 p.m.
• CSN West Charleston
  6375 W. Charleston Blvd., Las Vegas, NV 89146
  New hours, effective Wednesday, March 16: Monday — Friday, 12 p.m. —4 p.m.
  Current hours: Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. — 5 p.m.
• CSN Henderson
  700 College Dr., Henderson, NV 89002
  Closing, Wednesday, March 16.
  Current hours: Monday — Thursday, 12 p.m. — 4 p.m.

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 is available for people age 65 and older and people ages 12 to 64 who are at risk for severe illness. 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 come to the Health District’s public health center to be evaluated and provided with the treatment, if indicated. People can also 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/ or call (1-800) 401-0946.

COVID-19 Cases

As of March 3, a total of 489,011 cases of COVID-19 have been reported in Clark County, an increase of 423 cases over the previous day. A total of 7,552 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. This provides 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:

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. 

COVID-19 Vaccination Status Report

COVID-19 Pediatric Doses

As of March 2, more than 46,200 children between the ages of 5 and 11 have received their initial COVID-19 vaccine dose in Clark County and more than 34,900 have completed their vaccine series.

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 March 3:

• Total Doses Reported Administered: 3,432,287

Total Vaccinations Reported Initiated: 1,675,131

• Percent initiated vaccination:
  • Overall: 72.26%
  • 18 years and older: 85.92%
  • 5 years and older: 75.15%
• Total Vaccinations Reported Completed: 1,347,525
  • Overall 58.13%
  • 18 years and older: 69.61%
  • 5 years and older 60.11%

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

COVID-19 after Vaccination

As of March 3, the Health District has received reports of 68,232 fully vaccinated individuals testing positive for COVID-19. This represents 533 cases out of every 10,000 fully vaccinated people in Clark County. The Health District is reporting a total of 483 deaths that have occurred in fully vaccinated Clark County residents. This represents 4 deaths per 10,000 fully vaccinated people. Among unvaccinated people, there have been 7,055 cases of breakthrough COVID-19 deaths in unvaccinated individuals. This represents 68 per 10,000 deaths in unvaccinated people.

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

Additional COVID-19 information and 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.