UPDATE: Reno Vice Mayor Devon Reese says he has tested negative for COVID-19.

He made a statement on his Facebook page on Thursday:

 

User: Devon To: link

 

Original Story: Reno Vice Mayor Devon Reese said he was experiencing some symptoms that have been linked to COVID-19. Wednesday morning he was tested, and during a press conference for Washoe County's status, gave a description of his experience getting tested. 

Reese told us the entire experience was very simple, and that the county is working with state partners to expand testing to more and more people.  The biggest, or rather smallest shock to him was how the test was performed.

"I was anticipating a nasal swab of this length, and it was really much smaller. And it did not hurt, it was not painful -- you know it didn't feel great either, but it did not hurt me," said Reese.

He says the whole process took shorter than he expected, and it was important to do to protect the public and loved ones. Reese was recently out at a meal donation event in the North Valleys, delivering food to seniors in the area.

Test results are expected within 24-48 hours, and if found positive, Washoe County will perform contact tracing and inform those who may have been in contact with the vice mayor.

These testing sites are limited, but Washoe County says they are increasing the number of people who can be tested.

"We have developed plans where we can scale up the number of people we can test there up to 900 people per a four-hour shift," said Kevin Dick with the Washoe County Health District.

In an interview with ABC, Governor Sisolak said he is not ready to lift the stay at home order and begin phase one of reopening Nevada, and that the opening of places like casinos will likely be in phase three or four of the "Nevada United Roadmap to Recovery."

"Reno's a great place to come, have a good time, enjoy yourself -- but it has to be safe, and that's what we need to do for our employees and for our visitors who are coming here," said Governor Sisolak.

Kevin Dick says we are starting to see a curve downward in the last seven days in Washoe County, which is what the governor wanted to see before phase one can start.

Dick says now is not the time to relax.

"We need to continue to observe our social distancing practices and stay home for Nevada to continue to make progress with the reduction of those numbers of new cases."

He also says that the testing sites here in Washoe County could be increased, if need be, up to 1800 a day using two shifts.