Former Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval has been diagnosed with a breakthrough case of COVID-19, he said today, crediting the vaccine for his mild symptoms.
In a message on the UNR website, Sandoval, the university president, said he received a positive test result today.
He said he tested negative for COVID-19 on Thursday, though he did not say why he was tested.
Sandoval was among more than 60,000 fans at Allegiant Stadium on Monday for the Las Vegas Raiders’ first game of the season.
“My symptoms have been very mild and I am confident I will make a quick recovery,” he said. “The onset of COVID-19 can happen fast when you least expect it.”
Washoe County, where UNR is located, has reported 2,374 breakthrough cases, according to the county’s COVID dashboard. Sandoval said he was inoculated in the spring.
Clark County, which has suffered the brunt of COVID-19 cases in Nevada, has reported 7,634 infections among fully vaccinated people.
Vaccinated people, however, are far less likely to be hospitalized or die of COVID.
The Southern Nevada Health District earlier this month reported 112 deaths of fully vaccinated people in Clark County. That’s eight deaths per 100,000 fully vaccinated people, compared to 562 deaths per 100,000 unvaccinated individuals, the report said.
Sandoval said he would be isolating and working from home for the next 10 days.
“The positive test result I received this morning and the mild symptoms I’ve experienced thus far also point to the fact that the COVID-19 vaccines are indeed doing their job,” he said. “I received my COVID-19 vaccinations earlier this spring and I am so grateful I did.”
“Breakthrough infections tend to be mild when one is vaccinated and this is exactly what I am experiencing right now,” he said. “I want to use this moment to encourage all of our students, faculty and staff to get vaccinated if you have not done so already.”