Reno, Sparks. Nev. Feb. 4, 2022. The Regional Information Center is reminding residents that four COVID-19 vaccine events throughout the community will take place next week, giving those 5 years of age and older a chance to get a COVID-19 vaccine or booster. The events are:

Tuesday, Feb. 8 – All residents aged 5+

• McQueen High School, 6055 Lancer St, Reno, 3-6 p.m.
  

Wednesday, Feb. 9 – All residents aged 5+

• Desert Skies Middle School, 7550 Donatello Dr, Sun Valley, 3-6 p.m.

Thursday, Feb. 10 – All residents aged 5+

• Reno-Sparks Convention Center, 4590 S Virginia St, Reno, 3:30-6 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 12 – All residents aged 5+

• Washoe County Administrative Complex, Board of County Commission Chambers, Building A, 1001 E. 9th St., Reno, 9 a.m.-noon

Schedule an appointment to any of those COVID-19 vaccine events here.

Residents are encouraged to visit COVID19Washoe.com to view other community vaccine events scheduled weekly.

The COVID-19 vaccine remains the best way to protect you and your loved ones from severe illness, hospitalization and death from COVID-19. Those aged 5 and older are eligible to receive the free vaccine. To get a COVID-19 vaccine or booster, visit http://www.vaccines.gov. You can also find more community vaccine events here.

First Omicron BA.2 variant detected in Washoe County

The Washoe County Health District is reporting the first COVID-19 Omicron BA.2 variant case in Washoe County, per sequencing from the Nevada State Public Health Laboratory.

The Omicron BA.2 variant is a subvariant of Omicron. To date, other sequenced Omicron cases have been Omicron BA.1, which currently makes up over 99% of new COVID-19 cases in Washoe County.   The BA.2 variant has been found in 57 countries to date. Initial data suggest that it is more transmissive than the original BA.1 form of Omicron; however, it does not seem to be any more severe and the vaccines continue to provide similar protections against the different forms of Omicron according to the World Health Organization.

The Washoe County resident who was positive for Omicron BA.2 had travelled internationally, which is where the individual is believed to have been infected but has since recovered from the illness. The resident was fully vaccinated but not boosted.

COVID-19 testing demand decreasing in Washoe County; Livestock Events Center hours being adjusted

Due to a rapid decrease in demand for COVID-19 testing, the operations schedule for the testing site at the Reno-Sparks Livestock Events Center is being adjusted.

Starting Feb. 7, 2022, the Livestock Events Center testing site will be open Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Up to 300 people can be tested per day and all must have COVID-19 symptoms or be a close contact (6 feet or less for 15 minutes) to a confirmed COVID-19 case.

To schedule a test, go to www.COVID19Washoe.com and find the “Schedule a Test” tab, or click here. Alternative testing can be found here. Residents can also call 775-328-2427, Monday-Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. to schedule an appointment or get other COVID-19 questions answered.

If you get COVID-19, expect a text from Washoe County Health District

The Washoe County Health District (WCHD) added a self-survey feature to COVID-19 case investigations for residents and are reminding people 18 years and older that you might be contacted via text message.

If you receive a text message from the Health District directing you to fill out the secure form by clicking on the unique link in the text message, please do not ignore the message. Residents will be asked to verify basic information and then follow instructions to fill out the form and include requested contact information on those you may have exposed. The form will take approximately 10 minutes to complete.

If you’re concerned about the validity of the text, please call 775-328-2427.

Text messages also will be sent to known close contacts to COVID-19 positive cases. The notifications will include instructions on what to do if you are a close contact, which includes a direct link to the covid19washoe.com website self-isolation and quarantine page. This is not an opt-in process; contacts will be texted/emailed based off information gathered from investigations.

The COVID-19 Regional Information Center is working together to deliver COVID-19 community updates in a unified manner. While press releases are only sent periodically for significant events, you can always get daily results on our website, https://covid19washoe.com/, our COVID-19 Dashboard or by following us on Twitter @COVID19Washoe. The entities include: City of Reno, City of Sparks, North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District, Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe, Regional Transportation Commission, REMSA Health, Reno Sparks Indian Colony, Reno Police Department, Reno Fire Department, Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District, University of Nevada, Reno, Washoe County, Washoe County Health District, Washoe County School District and Washoe County Sheriff’s Office. Also in the group are Community Health Alliance and the area hospitals, Northern Nevada Medical Center, Renown Health and Saint Mary’s.

Reno, Sparks. Nev. Jan. 26, 2022. More COVID-19 testing availability is coming to the Reno-Sparks Livestock Events Center starting Thursday, Jan. 27, 2022, as the Nevada National Guard has been re-deployed to assist with operations.

To schedule a COVID-19 test appointment at the Reno-Sparks Livestock Events Center, follow this link. Residents can also call 775-328-2427, Monday-Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The testing times will be expanded to include afternoons and Saturdays. As many as 800 appointments will be available on a given day when staffing levels are sufficient, up from 250 previously.

The Nevada Department of Health and Human Services, the Nevada National Guard and Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak’s office approved the Guard redeployment, which will allow the Health District to offer more appointments in a critical time of need.

“I am grateful to the men and women of the Nevada National Guard for taking on this additional assignment to help with COVID-19 testing at the Reno-Sparks Livestock Events Center and I thank all those involved with the Washoe County Health District for their continued work,” Sisolak said. “COVID-19 cases are still very high in Washoe County and this increase in testing availability comes at a crucial time. This federal, State and local partnership is a truly great example of what we can accomplish when we’re working together to aid in the COVID-19 response.”

Testing will be offered Monday-Saturday. Weekday testing is from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Saturday hours are 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Hours and appointments may vary based on staffing levels. A small number of walk-ups will be permitted.

With the spread of the Omicron variant and COVID-19 cases increasing in Washoe County, it’s recommended that you receive a COVID-19 test if you are showing symptoms of COVID-19 or were in close contact (6 feet or less for 15 minutes) to a positive case. A record 1,694 cases were reported on Jan. 20 and the 7-day moving average for new cases is currently at 1,052.4. See more COVID-19 data in Washoe County here.

Find other COVID-19 testing sites in Washoe County here.

The COVID-19 vaccine remains the best way to protect you and your loved ones from severe illness, hospitalization and death from COVID-19. Those aged 5 and older are eligible to receive the free vaccine. To get a COVID-19 vaccine or booster, visit http://www.vaccines.gov. You can also find a community vaccine event here.

The COVID-19 Regional Information Center is working together to deliver COVID-19 community updates in a unified manner. While press releases are only sent periodically for significant events, you can always get daily results on our website, https://covid19washoe.com/, our COVID-19 Dashboard or by following us on Twitter @COVID19Washoe. The entities include: City of Reno, City of Sparks, North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District, Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe, Regional Transportation Commission, REMSA Health, Reno Sparks Indian Colony, Reno Police Department, Reno Fire Department, Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District, University of Nevada, Reno, Washoe County, Washoe County Health District, Washoe County School District and Washoe County Sheriff’s Office. Also in the group are Community Health Alliance and the area hospitals, Northern Nevada Medical Center, Renown Health and Saint Mary’s.