Douglas County commissioners and residents deliver letter to Sisolak asking for phased reopening

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Nev. - Douglas County Board of County Commissioners held a special meeting on April 29, 2020, regarding recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and economic impacts to local businesses in the county. The Board decided unanimously to deliver a letter to Governor Sisolak in support of reopening Douglas County and hand-delivered the letter in unison with community members and the Sheriff's Office at 8:30 a.m. Thursday.

Douglas County has had no deaths recorded from COVID-19 and there are currently seven cases of the virus in their population of about 50,000 people, both at Lake Tahoe and in the valley. The total number of cases has been 44 with 37 recoveries. El Dorado County to the west in California has also had 44 cases and no deaths in their population of almost 200,000 people.

The letter states the commissioners understand the need for a phased approach and ask to start their reopening process on Friday, May 1 under guidelines from the Center for Disease Control (CDC).

Their phased approach is designed to "provide a lifeline to many small businesses and the families they support."

They asked to remove the designation of essential and nonessential businesses and allow them to start retail operations with curb-side or home-delivery at first. Once retailers have been addressed they then want to phase in food and beverage operations with on-site consumption under social distancing guidelines.

Following that would be salons, under strict guidelines.

Their plan also includes reopening of recreation areas including parks, as well as houses of worship. They are also asking the governor to make businesses have, at a minimum, two paychecks per month to help with cash flow issues.

The meeting Wednesday included an update on Douglas County's response to the COVID-19 pandemic and discussed Douglas County's recovery plan. The county received public comment from residents in regards to economic impacts on local business in Douglas County.

The letter is attached and can also be viewed on the County's website, https://www.douglascountynv.gov/.