LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — Residents throughout Clark County got an alert on their phones Tuesday afternoon when the Clark County Office of Emergency Management activated an emergency public safety alert.
The alert urged people to take part in the free COVID-19 testing that is taking place from Aug. 31 - Sept. 18 as part of the county's Stop, Swab, and Go program.
RELATED: 'Largest testing event yet' in Vegas valley coming soon; 60K tests to be administered for free
Clark County sent 13 Action News the below statement about the decision to use the emergency alert system:
The Clark County Office of Emergency Management determined that under the existing Declaration of Emergency and the current health threat posed by COVID-19, it is important to make it widely known that this free, convenient, drive-thru testing is available. Through testing, we can identify who is positive and those persons can isolate themselves and slow the spread. Through testing, we can also conduct disease investigations and conduct contact tracing to alert those who may have been exposed. Through this Stop, Swab & Go effort, 60,000 tests are available through Sept. 18 and we encourage everyone to register at DoINeedaCOVID19test.com and get tested.
In addition to testing offered through Stop, Swab & Go at Sam Boyd Stadium, Texas Station and Fiesta Henderson, testing is also offered through the UMC site at Cashman and UNLV. A calendar of local testing sites is available at https://www.southernnevadahealthdistrict.org/covid-19-testing-sites
It did not take long after the alert was sent for social media to quickly light up with people asking about the alert.
@ENSAlerts Las Vegas received an alert about Covid testing. Is this really an emergency now ? Should’ve sent this test back in March ! pic.twitter.com/F5mrEGvF50
— Toya Tee (@MissToyaTee) September 1, 2020
While this is good information..
— Only In Vegas ➐ ➐ ➐ (@OnlyInVegas702) September 1, 2020
It is absolutely not an emergency to be broadcasted on the Emergency Alert System. imo pic.twitter.com/vj9e4cJRQ2
Anyone else get this? #Nevada pic.twitter.com/sjXM3nEggl
— Dayna Roselli (@DaynaRoselli) September 1, 2020
