Reno, Sparks Nev. Jan. 18, 2022. Due to the high number of COVID-19 cases in our community, the Washoe County Health District (WCHD) is adding a self-survey feature to our case investigation that will be sent via text message to COVID-19 positive cases aged 18 years and older.

If you receive a secure text message from the Health District, we ask that you please fill out the form. Residents will be asked to verify basic information and then follow instructions to fill out the form and include requested contact information on those you have exposed. The form will take approximately 10 minutes to complete.

“Supplementing our efforts with technology helps build our capacities with investigating the high volume of cases, and we will be able to identify exposed contacts more efficiently,” said Dr. Nancy Diao, Division Director of Epidemiology with WCHD. “We continue to maintain our investigation and contact tracing efforts to better serve the community. Please do your part to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19.”

The Health District last week launched an automated text messaging and email notification system designed to notify residents who are a close contact to someone who has COVID-19. The notifications will include instructions on what to do if you are a close contact, which includes a direct link to the covid19washoe.com website self-isolation and quarantine page. This is not an opt-in process; contacts will be texted/emailed based off information gathered from investigations.

The Health District continues to administer tests at the Reno-Sparks Livestock Events Center and recently extended operations to mornings Monday-Friday. Schedule an appointment here. To get a COVID-19 vaccine or booster, visit www.vaccines.gov or find a community vaccine event in Washoe County here.

The Washoe County Health District is nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board and has jurisdiction over all public health matters in Reno, Sparks, and Washoe County through the policy-making Washoe County District Board of Health. The District consists of five divisions: Administrative Health Services, Air Quality Management, Community and Clinical Health Services, Environmental Health Services and Epidemiology & Public Health Preparedness. More info can be found here.