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LAS VEGAS – Southern Nevada officials are condemning a Fourth of July desert rave as dangerous behavior that can wipe away progress in the fight against COVID-19.

“This is one event that was unlicensed that people attended and that was not in the best interest of so many,” said Clark County Commission Chairwoman Marilyn Kirkpatrick during a pandemic update in Las Vegas Tuesday. “For all of the good work that we were doing, one event such as this can take it all away.”

The maskless, unsanctioned rave happened on an isolated slice of North Las Vegas desert, where Las Vegas News 3 captured video of hundreds dancing in disregard of social distancing.

“If you attended that event, please by all means call me,” Kirkpatrick said. “I need to find out who that promoter was, because we spent hours and hours and hours throughout our community, thousands of people doing all the right things for just a few hundred to ruin all of that.”

In Clark County, the highest percentage of cases fall in the 20-30 age range, according University Medical Center CEO Mason VanHouweling. 

“We’re seeing a shift [is] in unauthorized gatherings in the younger populations,” VanHouweling said. “When you add up the 20-to-30 year olds, that makes up 40 percent of our positive COVID testing.” 

VanHouweling pleaded with younger people to abide by mask requirements and social distancing guidelines.

“I know that everybody’s been at home and wants to get out and enjoy Las Vegas, but think about those that you love,” he said, “think about your family, your coworkers. Just because you are asymptomatic or feeling good, you can still spread the virus.” 

The known number of Nevadans who have tested positive for COVID-19 reached 23,785 on Tuesday morning, according to the Nevada Health Alliance dashboard. That’s an increase of 876 new cases over what was previously reported on Sunday.

Eleven additional deaths were reported, bringing the total number of coronavirus-related deaths in Nevada to 548.

Last week, the data analysis website rt.live ranked Nevada as having the highest transmission rate in the country, with each positive coronavirus case infecting on average 1.61 other people.

That number has dropped to 1.20, but officials say it’s imperative that people wear masks and practice social distancing or the rate will skyrocket.

“That’s where you run into trouble,” Kirkpatrick said. “I’m not asking anyone to do anything I wouldn’t do.” 

Ed Komenda writes about Las Vegas for the Reno Gazette Journal and USA Today Network. Do you care about democracy? Then support local journalism by subscribing to the Reno Gazette Journal right here. 

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