screenshot from live video
Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak delivers his State of the State address Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2021.
Thursday, Feb. 11, 2021 | 4:45 p.m.
CARSON CITY — Gov. Steve Sisolak detailed a timeline for the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions in Nevada, which would culminate in a transition of decision-making authority from the state to local governments on May 1.
In order for local authorities to take over COVID-19 mitigation decisions, counties will have until the end of April to demonstrate a decrease in COVID-19 rates, adequate hospital capacity and evidence they can continue an “adequate level” of testing and other response efforts, Sisolak said.
Restrictions will be gradually loosened starting Monday, when gatherings will increase from 50 to 100 people or 35% capacity, whichever is less.
Restaurants and bars will also no longer have to require reservations, and up to six people will be able to be sit at a table.
Gathering restrictions will further increase March 15, returning to a 50% capacity cap on most businesses and a gathering cap of 250 people or 50% capacity, whichever is less.
Strip clubs, nightclubs, day clubs and brothels will remain closed until at least May 1.
Whenever some of the mitigation measures do shift to local control, Sisolak stressed the state would continue to implement some restrictions.
“Even when we move to local management, specific statewide protocols will remain in place to mitigate the spread, including but not limited to the mask mandate and other social distancing requirements,” Sisolak said.
Before May 1, the state’s COVID-19 Management and Mitigation Task Force will work with counties to develop plans to transition to local control.
“While we are hopeful that trends will continue to decrease if all mitigation measures are followed, we must remain flexible – as we have done all along,” Sisolak said. “We will continue to monitor data trends throughout this timeline and work closely with counties and local health authorities to evaluate next steps should a significant increase begin to occur.”
The changes come as Nevada has seen a decrease in COVID-19 cases and as vaccines have begun to be rolled out across the state. Over the past 14 days, Nevada has had an average of 623 daily new cases, a 14.3% test positivity rate and a hospitalization rate of 879. Sisolak stressed that the trends are still double what the state experienced in mid-September.
“In fact, the Nevada Hospital Association warns that this ‘good news does not mean that people should let their guard down,’ ” Sisolak said. “With case counts remaining near the previous wave’s high, hospital capacity could quickly be stressed if the trajectories changed course.”
As of Wednesday, more than 307,000 first doses of a vaccine and over 82,000 second doses have been administered in Nevada.
“As you all know, each week Nevada receives a limited number of doses of COVID-19 vaccine, which is a challenge for everyone, but every dose is a small step forward,” Sisolak said.
Sisolak said that the goal of the plan is to “avoid a scenario where I have to come before all of you again and pause our effort.”
“I want to see business travel to Nevada make a comeback – boosting our economy and putting folks back to work. I want to give our health care workers a needed break from 11 straight months of shift after shift caring for COVID patients,” Sisolak said. “I want to return to the Nevada we know and love – but I want to come back even stronger. Together, we can do it.”
