Rising COVID cases could pause large events in Clark County

The Southern Nevada Health District is recommending that gatherings of 1,000 or more people not be approved for the time being in Clark County, which is seeing a spike in COVID-19 cases, potentially putting on pause larger concerts, conventions and sporting events.

In late September, Gov. Steve Sisolak raised the cap on most indoor and outdoor events from 50 to 250 people or 50 percent of capacity, whichever number is lower. Under the governor’s directive, organizers can request approval of safety plans for gatherings of up to 10 percent of capacity at venues that can hold more than 2,500. In easing restrictions, Sisolak noted the downward trend in public health metrics, including a drop in COVID-19 hospitalizations and a declining test positivity rate.

What a difference a month makes. In October, the number of cases, the positivity rate and the number of hospitalizations all rose in Clark County and across the state, as they did in much of the country.

Nevada health officials on Saturday reported 1,824 new cases, the largest single-day increase since July. A little more than 1,300 of those were in Clark County.

In making its recommendations, the health district will analyze metrics including the seven-day average for cases, current capacity for case investigation and contact tracing, and the seven-day average for hospitalizations, Southern Nevada Health District official Misty Robinson told the state’s COVID-19 Mitigation and Management Task Force on Thursday.

The district not only is recommending against approval of events but also may call for cancellations if the trend worsens.

“We will also recommend that events that already have been approved be canceled if the local health infrastructure is trending toward capacity for three consecutive days seven days prior to their event,” Robinson said.

If the local health infrastructure is exceeding capacity, the health district may also recommend that the limit on gatherings be reduced below 250, she said.

Plans submitted for review

Nineteen event plans have been submitted to Clark County for review, according to a list provided by the county on Thursday.

UNLV has requested approval to have fans at its football games at Allegiant Stadium, while T-Mobile Arena has asked to host college basketball. The Silverton casino has submitted a plan to host a Santa run, the Las Vegas Convention Center, an auto auction. Information on the size and timing of events was not immediately available.

Although large event venues with 2,500 or more fixed seats are allowed up to 10 percent capacity, UNLV opted to apply for 3 percent capacity at Allegiant Stadium to ensure it could adhere to state mandated COVID-19 regulations. The school originally applied for 6,150 fans, but after reviewing its plan with Clark County officials, lowered the number to 2,000.

UNLV’s plan will have to be resubmitted to county and state officials for approval following the school’s Nov. 7 game against Fresno State.

The school expects to submit a similar plan for men’s basketball games at the Thomas & Mack Center. Their season kicks off Nov. 25 versus Montana State. UNLV had no comment Friday on the health district’s recommendation.

Earlier this week, the health district posted to its website a set of tiered parameters for recommending approval of an event. For a gathering of more than 250 but less than 1,000, it will recommend approval with a warning of possible cancellation if the seven-day average of daily new cases is between 400 and 750. If the new case numbers are higher, it will not recommend approval.

For a gathering of 1,000 or more, it will not recommend approval if the new daily case count averages 400 or higher. The current seven-day average for new daily cases in Clark County is 569, meaning that under the current parameters, events of 1,000 or more would not be recommended for approval. Gatherings of 250 or less currently do not need approval.

Environmental health manager Karla Shoup said the health district will make initial recommendations on submitted plans, but she cautioned that it may recommend cancellation as close to an event as a week out if health metrics have changed.

“We have not to this point recommended cancellation of an event,” she said.

By using these parameters, the health district hopes to avoid overwhelming the public health infrastructure, including hospitals, by preventing disease transmission at large events, she said. The district will begin to post additional public health metrics to its COVID-19 dashboard to assist event planners with their decision-making.

She acknowledged that the uncertainty could cause consternation for both event planners and those planning to attend.

“We all want to get back to normal, right?” Shoup said. “The reality is we’re still in a pandemic, and we still need to pay attention to these numbers and the burden it places on our health care infrastructure,” she said.

Who’s the decider?

However, Shoup said the health district did not expect to have the final word on whether a large gathering would be approved. The county’s business licensing division also will be giving its recommendations, along with state agencies, she said.

A state official, however, suggested that a gathering would not be approved without the blessing of the local health district.

“The large gathering approval process requires that event organizers get approval from the local health district prior to submitting a plan to the state for review,” said Teri Williams, public information office for the Nevada Department of Business and Industry.

“The governor has given local and regional authorities the ability to tighten restrictions or enhance enforcement beyond the levels set for the entire state when conditions warrant,” Williams said. “If SNHD is limiting attendance at an event occurring in Clark County, the approval would be denied by SNHD and the plan would not be eligible for submission to the state for review.”

As recently as Oct. 26, the governor said he was working on a plan to increase the size of conventions, a major driver of the economy, to 50 percent capacity by Jan. 1

Caleb Cage, who directs the state’s COVID-19 response, said Friday that he was “encouraged” by the health district’s stance.

The governor has “encouraged local governments and health districts to institute more strict mitigation measures than what the state has provided in the baseline standards,” Cage said.

“We’re encouraged at this decision, and we hope that they will make it a formal part of their mitigation plan” for reducing the impact of COVID-19.

Clark County would not be the first Nevada county to impose more stringent restrictions than those required by the state. Washoe County last month reduced the size of its gatherings back down to 50. Lyon County has canceled certain large events.

Contact Mary Hynes at mhynes@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0336. Follow @MaryHynes1 on Twitter. Contact Mick Akers at makers@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2920. Follow @mickakers on Twitter.