LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — Clark County, the Southern Nevada Health District, University Medical Center, the Nevada National Guard, local cities and ambulance companies have conducted more than 500,000 COVID-19 tests as part of their community testing efforts.
This milestone number was reported by Clark County on Wednesday.
“I want to thank our fire department, UMC, the health district and all our partners for their hard work and dedication in creating our community testing program,” said Clark County Commission Chairman Marilyn Kirkpatrick. “Offering free and accessible testing has been an important tool in our fight against COVID-19, and our efforts will continue into the new year as we work toward putting the pandemic behind us and rebuilding our local economy.”
As of Wednesday, Clark County and community partners have conducted 501,614 tests as part of their community testing program.
The testing program began in May and averages about 5,000 tests a day.
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Testing is offered to anyone, with or without symptoms, including children and families.
The community’s three public testing sites – Cashman Center, UNLV’s Stan Fulton International Gaming Institute Building, and the drive-through testing site at Texas Station Hotel & Casino – will be closed on New Year’s Day, Friday, Jan. 1.
In addition, officials announced some operational changes that will go into effect at the sites after the new year.
Starting, Jan. 11, the Texas Station site operating in the hotel’s parking garage at 2101 Texas Star Lane, will operate three days a week as a neighborhood strike team site.
The days of operation will be announced when they become available.
The site will open at 8 a.m. and offer approximately 600 tests on a first-come basis as supplies permit, according to Clark County,
County and Nevada National Guard staff will continue supporting the operation, while the health district will oversee on-site registration, lab processing of samples, and the notifications of test results.
No appointments are available at the site, and no insurance is necessary.
Also, starting on Jan. 11, the two sites which are overseen by UMC – UNLV and Cashman Center – will begin requesting insurance information during the registration process.
The county says there will continue to be no-out-of-pocket costs to patients, including the uninsured, but the insurance of patients who have it will be billed in order to recoup some testing-related costs.
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The UNLV site, located at 801 E. Flamingo Road, operates 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday through Thursday. It is closed Fridays and Saturdays.
The Cashman site, located in Exhibit Hall A at 850 N. Las Vegas Blvd., operates 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and is closed Sundays and Mondays.
Appointments at both sites are highly recommended to reduce wait times and maintain operational efficiency. Appointments can be self-scheduled through UMC’s website. Those with no online access may call UMC at 702-383-2619 to schedule appointments.
Both sites accept some walk-ins each day on a first-come, first-served basis as staffing allows, but priority is given to those with appointments.
Community members are encouraged to check UMC’s website regularly, as the hospital makes new appointments available on a daily basis. UMC also is asking community members to help prioritize testing appointments for those with symptoms or those who have been exposed to confirmed positive patients.
Face coverings, temperature checks and social distancing are required at check-in at both sites. Those arriving with symptoms are diverted to a separate testing area.
The public can visit the testing site calendar on the Southern Nevada Health District’s website for a listing of public testing sites and upcoming testing event dates and locations.
The state of Nevada also has a COVID-19 test finding locator tool on its website that lists private labs, pharmacies and other testing resources for fees.
