NEVADA (KTNV) — Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak ended the state's mask mandate on Thursday.

Masks will no longer be required inside most public places including casinos.

However, masks are still mandated in airports and on public transportation.

Sisolak also clarified that while masks will not be mandated on the state level, he said employers and organizations may still set their own policies around masks.

“Just like vaccines, masks are still a great tool we have to slow the spread of the virus. I expect going forward to still see Nevadans and visitors occasionally utilizing masks when they are out in public,” said Sisolak.

For schools, Sisolak says local districts can come up with their own policies.

Sisolak joins a growing list of Democratic governors who have announced plans to lift mandates this week as COVID-19 cases drop.

Nevada recorded its single highest day of new cases on Jan. 10 with 7,865 cases. Now, the state is averaging around 1,280 cases per day.

Meanwhile, the CDC recommends that everyone ages 2 and older should continue to wear a mask in indoor public settings.

This story was originally reported by Abel Garcia and Amy Abdelsayed on ktnv.com.

LAS VEGAS — A newly-launched tool by Nevada state officials gives digital access to their COVID-19 vaccination records through QR codes.

SMART Health QR Code uses data stored in Nevada WebIZ, the statewide immunization information system.

The codes, unique to each individual, have the same information as a CDC vaccine card: name, date of birth, vaccine date, and type.

It serves as an official State of Nevada digital record that a SMART Health verifier app can only scan.

How to get a SMART Health QR Code

To get a unique QR code that contains the same information as your CDC vaccine card, visit izrecord.nv.gov and search for your record.

According to a FAQ sheet from the state, the SMART Health Card QR Code will be visible at the bottom of the COVID-19 Vaccination Record.

Download your record and save your QR code as a digital file on your phone, computer, or anywhere you store your digital information.

Is the information secure?

The state says the SMART Health QR Codes are generated at random each time you pull the immunization record. They are not stored on a server.

SMART Health QR Codes do not link to Nevada WebIZ to verify the information.

All patient and COVID-19 vaccine information is stored in the SMART Health QR Code, protected by cryptography.

A regular smartphone camera cannot scan this QR code, and only verified mobile apps can interpret the data.

How to get help

If your record is incorrect or you can't find it, the state has a COVID-19 Helpline at 1 (800) 401-0946.

To learn more, check out the FAQ sheet or visit nvhealthresponse.nv.gov.

Information provided by Nevada Health Response.

Scientists at the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine (UNR Med), led by its Nevada State Public Health Laboratory (NSPHL) are studying a likely case of COVID-19 reinfection.

Forty-eight days after testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 in April 2020 and after testing negative consecutively twice, a Washoe County, Nevada patient tested positive again, in June.

The patient had tested negative on two separate occasions in the interim. The genomes of the patient’s virus samples were sequenced in April and June, displaying significant genetic discordance between the two cases, implying the patient was infected twice.

“We examined the genomic material of the viruses and samples to investigate this, says NSPHL Director Mark Pandori. “It is just one finding, but it shows that a person can possibly become infected with SARS-CoV-2 a second time.”

To solidify confidence in the case, Pandori and the research team partnered with the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office Biology Unit to conduct identity testing on the specimens and lab samples evaluated in the study to verify the specimens were from the same person.

Embedded in the genomic material of SARS-CoV-2 is a detailed code that Pandori says may provide insight to a
better understanding of this virus.

“A virus has a biological genome like all living things. Since March, the NSPHL has analyzed the genomic RNA of approximately 200 positive COVID-19 samples from Nevadans who have tested positive for COVID-19,” said Pandori. “The power of genomic information could turn the tables in the fight against the coronavirus.” The information is shared to a world-wide database known as “GISAID”,” alongside the work of thousands of researchers.

According to Pandori and the NSPHL-led research team, reinfection cases are a potential warning sign that it is possible to catch COVID-19 more than once, and with unpredictable severity.

“If reinfection is possible on such a short timeline, there may be implications for the efficacy of vaccines developed to fight the disease. It may also have implications for herd immunity,” says Pandori. “It is important to note, that this is a singular finding. It does not provide any information to us with regard to the generalizability of this phenomenon.”

Herd immunity depends on the theory that after natural infection, our immune systems will collectively protect us as a community from reinfection and further spread. There are currently many more unknowns than knowns about immune responses to COVID-19. “After one recover from COVID-19, we still do not know how much immunity is built up, how long it may last, or how well antibodies play a role in protection against reinfection,” says Pandori.”

While research and scientific advancements continue to build, Pandori says the hard work of fighting this pandemic together will continue through the use of facial coverings, hand-washing, social distancing, as well as wide-scale testing, contact tracing, and isolation of new cases.

“This is a novel disease. We still have a steep learning curve ahead and lots of work to do, especially as inconvenient truths arise,” says Pandori.

The NSPHL team are publishing their COVID-19 reinfection findings. Their report is publicly accessible on the SSRN preprint server, at https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3681489.

This story was first reported by KTNV in Las Vegas, Nevada.

LAS VEGAS — Many people are wondering if you have already had COVID-19 should you get the vaccine? And if so, when?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, they recommend anyone who has tested positive for coronavirus to wait 90 days after testing positive before getting vaccinated.

The CDC also recommends COVID-19 patients who have recovered from the virus and received monoclonal antibodies or convalescent plasma as part of COVID-19 treatment wait 90 days before vaccination.

"Currently, there are no data on the safety and efficacy of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines in persons who received monoclonal antibodies or convalescent plasma as part of COVID-19 treatment. Based on the estimated half-life of such therapies and evidence suggesting that reinfection is uncommon in the 90 days after initial infection, vaccination should be deferred for at least 90 days, as a precautionary measure until additional information becomes available, to avoid potential interference of the antibody therapy with vaccine-induced immune responses," the CDC's website says.

Southern Nevada Health District agrees with the CDC guidelines and a spokesperson for SNHD told 13 Action News, "The 90-day timeframe is based on the CDC guidance for people who have had COVID-19 and recovered. We do follow CDC guidelines."

And while Nevada doesn't have a system in place to flag people who have tested positive before making an appointment, they are hopeful people will heed the guidance.

Read the full CDC vaccine guidance click here.

This story was first published by KTNV.

LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — Nevada's largest private employer, MGM Resorts International, has announced sweeping new options for guests and conventions at its properties as well as unveiling a new on-site vaccine clinic for employees and their families inside Mandalay Bay.

The company says employees can go while they are on the clock to get a shot.

"It's been really incredible to see our employees come in," said Ashley Eddy with MGM Resorts International.

Next Tuesday, MGM will open the vaccine offer for their property entertainers as well as employees at venues located within MGM hotel and casinos.

"I think the biggest needle movers is getting those big citywide, those big conferences and conventions back," said John Flynn, vice president of administration for MGM Resorts International.

"Getting a lot of people back in our theaters and a lot of people back in T-Mobile Arena at Golden Knights games, that's the target, we just have to keep doing things in the right direction," added Flynn.

The company is also trying to jump start the convention business and announced multiple partnerships to help facilitate testing and screening of participants of larger events.

"It's all about perception and removing barriers whether it's talking about conventioneers or just the average leisure visitor," said Anthony Curtis of LasVegasAdvisor.com

Curtis calls the announcements "significant" and positions Las Vegas and specifically MGM Resorts International as a leader in safety for the return of large conventions.

MGM also announced guests can request in-room COVID testing with costs between $140 and $230 dollars.

This article was written by Joe Bartels for KTNV.

CARSON CITY — During Wednesday’s public federal Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) meeting, the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services says it learned that a Nevadan was one of the six reported serious reactions to the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine.

The state of Nevada was not informed of the reported reaction until the live, public meeting on Wednesday, according to the Nevada Health Response team. At that time, it was reported that the person in Nevada is an 18-year-old woman who reported a blood clot and a hemorrhage without an immediate word of recovery.

On Tuesday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a joint statement recommending a pause in the use of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine while six serious reactions were investigated.

Also on Tuesday, the state of Nevada paused the use of the vaccine.

"Right now, the risk of death from the disease is very high. The risk of the vaccinations very, very low," said Dr. Brian Labus, an infectious disease epidemiologist at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. "We don't want to say that you shouldn't be concerned at all about it, of course; that's why we're looking into things, but we're talking about something that is a very rare event if it is indeed related to the vaccine.“

Following Wednesday’s ACIP announcement, the Nevada Health Response team says DHHS immediately reached out to federal partners for more information and to understand why the report was not provided to the state.

"Whether the case was identified in Nevada or California or Arizona, that still matters to everybody, not just Nevadans," Labus said. "We need to look at what happened nationwide. And is not like Nevada has a role in investigating that one case, this is something that needs to be investigated through the FDA the manufacture to make sure that the vaccine is safe to everyone nationwide."

As of Monday, more than 6.8 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine had been administered in the United States.

Anyone who has received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine within the last month and develops a severe headache, abdominal pain, leg pain, or shortness of breath within three weeks after vaccination should contact their health care provider.

Health care providers are required to report adverse events to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System here.

This story was originally published by Jordan Gartner on KTNV in Las Vegas.

LAS VEGAS — A Nevada 18-year-old is in a fight for her life after suffering an extremely rare and severe case of blood clots after receiving Johnson & Johnson's COVID-19 vaccine, according to family friends.

Family friends have identified 18-year-old Emma Burkey as one of the six cases of clotting in the U.S. that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is investigating in connection with the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

“She started having seizures, then they took her to the hospital, and then they realized she had blood clots in the brain,” said Bret Johnson, a family friend who says he is in constant contact with Burkey's parents.

Luckily, Burkey's condition is improving.

“She’s starting to realize what has happened to her, where she is, slowly,” Johnson said.

Things weren’t always as promising.

“For a while there, her situation and condition was completely unknown. Very scary and very iffy, honestly,” Johnson said.

Burkey was first treated at St. Rose Hospital in Henderson, Nevada, where she was in an induced coma and on a ventilator.

Later, she was airlifted to Loma Linda Hospital in Southern California where she remains with her family.

The FDA and the CDC recommended a pause in the use of the vaccine last week after confirming six cases of a rare but severe blood clot disorder that happened after the patients had the shot. About 7 million people in the U.S. had safely received a dose of the J&J vaccine prior to the pause.

So far, the clotting had only presented in patients that suffered from thrombocytopenia — low levels of blood platelets — and those who had histories of blood clotting issues.

“This situation really rocked us to the core,” said Heiden Ratner, another family friend.

Ratner is the senior pastor at WALK Church, where Burkey is in the kid's ministry. Ratner says Burkey has also babysat his family's children.

“We were challenged, we were confused, and it drove us to prayer,” Ratner said.

The community has launched a GoFundMe for the Burkey family which surpassed its $10,000 goal in just four days.

This story was originally published by Austin Carter on KTNV in Las Vegas.

LAS VEGAS, Nev. -- CNN's Anderson Cooper spoke to Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman on Wednesday and

the interview is going viral.

Goodman has been an adamant proponent of reopening the city, even calling the shutdowns

"total insanity."

During Wednesday's interview on CNN, Goodman said she is willing to offer the city as a "control group" if Las Vegas is allowed to reopen.

Goodman also told Cooper that with no cure or vaccine, the shutdown could go on for months or maybe even a year.

The interview quickly began trending on social media, with almost everyone appearing to react negatively. Late-night television host and former Las Vegas resident Jimmy Kimmel called Goodman an "embarrassment to my hometown."

The

@mayoroflasvegas

Carolyn Goodman should resign before lunch arrives today. She is an embarrassment to my hometown.

— Jimmy Kimmel (@jimmykimmel)

April 22, 2020

Dear Las

@Vegas

. It would appear that your

@mayoroflasvegas

Carolyn Goodman is dangerously misguided. I am not easily shocked anymore, but the interview she is doing with

@andersoncooper

@cnn

right now is bonkers.

— Jimmy Kimmel (@jimmykimmel)

April 22, 2020

Goodman also told Cooper that additional testing, contact tracing and personal protective equipment is needed before reopening. When Cooper asked her what she was doing as the mayor to help with those efforts, she responded that it was not her responsibility.

Goodman also said that it is up to the businesses in Las Vegas to figure out social distancing. She said that her days were full, trying to help people get back to work.

Additionally, Goodman said she believes she contracted the virus in January and she hopes to donate her plasma to help those who are currently battling the virus. She did not give any other details.

Las Vegas has been hit especially hard by the governor's orders to close casinos and nonessential businesses. More than 300,000 people are currently unemployed and the unemployment overwhelmed with the vast number of people applying for benefits.

Although Goodman is mayor of the City of Las Vegas, most of the hotel-casinos in the Las Vegas area are actually located in Clark County.

This story was originally published by Joyce Lupiani at KTNV.