With the launch of a community-based testing program next week, Elko County Commissioners are optimistic Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak will soon initiate Phase Two of the Nevada Roadmap to Recovery. Contributor Brian Bahouth of the Sierra Nevada Ally has the details.
Today during the regular Elko Board of Commissioners meeting, Dr. Bryce Putnam, Elko County Health Officer, announced the launch of the community-based testing program that will be held Wednesday through Saturday next week at the Elko Convention Center. The testing program aims to complete 2,500-3,000 nasal-swab tests during that time.
“All of the tests that we’re going to conduct are going to give us a snapshot out of 3,000 people, how many that are being tested that could still pass it along to members of our community,” Putnam said.
The community-based testing initiative comes as part of the state government’s directive to test as many people as possible to identify potential Covid-19 carriers. A contact tracing program was also implemented at the start of last week, working to identify anyone that may have come into contact with the eight new cases of Covid-19 in Elko County announced this week.
A Public Service Announcement will be released in the near future once logistics for the testing program are in place. Elko County Commissioners expressed confidence that the testing program will help facilitate the launch of Phase Two of Gov. Sisolak’s Covid-19 reopening response, otherwise referred to as the “Silver State Stabilization” phase.
Scott King is a graduate student at the University of Nevada, Reno, pursuing his Master's degree in Media Innovation.
KUNR Contributor Brian Bahouth is the founder and editor-in-chief of The Sierra Nevada Ally. To read more on this topic, visit The Sierra Nevada Ally.
