No new restrictions for Nevada as Governor asks all to stem the tide of COVID-19

Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak spoke to Nevadans Sunday afternoon to update them on the state's COVID-19 situation. He said the restrictions that went into effect three weeks ago will continue until January 15, 2021. Due to the rising COVID-19 cases and deaths in the state many thought he might impose stricter regulations.

This means, restaurants, bars, gaming operations, gyms, fitness facilities and other businesses and activities will be limited to 25 percent of applicable fire code capacity. Retail stores – including grocery stores – will remain at 50 percent of capacity, with strict social distancing and additional monitoring requirements. Public gatherings are limited to no more than 50 people or 25 percent capacity, whichever is less. No large events will be approved during this time frame.

Private gatherings will be limited to no more than 10 people from no more than two separate households, and the State’s face covering requirement will be extended to private gatherings.

Nevadans must wear face coverings at all times, whether indoors or outdoors, when around individuals from outside their households. A recent survey said just 74 percent of citizens in the state wear a face covering. Sisolak said if that figure could get to 95 percent, 1,000 Nevadan's lives would be saved by April 1, 2021.

COVID-19 cases have been on the rise in the state. Every 40 seconds a Nevadan tests positive for COVID-19 and every 75 minutes, a Nevadan dies, said Sisolak. To date, there have been 187,000 positive cases and 2,539 deaths in the state. The per capita number of cases in Clark County, Nevada soars above Los Angeles County's cases.

At least 42 new coronavirus deaths and 2,605 new cases were reported in Nevada on Dec. 12. Over the past week, there has been an average of 2,620 cases per day, an increase of 8 percent from the average two weeks earlier.

With the holidays in the horizon, Sisolak said visitors are still welcome to the state but they need to follow the protocols while in Nevada. "If they don't want to be part of the solutions, they should probably stay home," said Sisolak.

The best gift to give anyone is the gift of health said the governor - Wash your hands, don't mix households, frequent hand washing, social distancing.

Sisolake said the public knows the tools to "get us across the bridge."

If the numbers of cases and deaths don't improve, the governor said there could be tougher actions in January if things don't change.

There will be a new moratorium on residential evictions starting Tuesday, December 15. He reminded renters this didn't eliminate whet they owe, just gives them a roof over their head at this time. He said impacted landlords have done a lot so far with ease of evictions on renters and asked they hang in there through what he hopes is the last surge before the public is vaccinated. He asked renters communicate with landlords and work out payments.

"I believe Nevadans care" said Sisolak. "We fight the virus, we cannot fight each other. Keep Nevadans safe."

He said it is a tightrope between doing what is fight for people who are suffering economically and hospitals under increased strain. He said the state is not shutting down and that they are trying to balance public health and the impact to the economy, and families and their ability to eat, have benefits, pay for housing.

"Decisions people make in the coming months will affect the state for the next ten years," said Sisolak.

He said it took ten years for the Nevada economy to recover after the 2007-2009 "Great Recession."

Gaming, part of Nevada's biggest industry of tourism, is under the restrictions as other Nevada businesses and must follow the rules under the Gaming Control Board or face more consequences than small business. Sisolak said the closure of casinos for 78 days this past spring contributed greatly to the 30.1 percent unemployment rate in Nevada when 250,000 people lost their jobs. He said many have exhausted their unemployment benefits until March 2021, so fighting the virus is important to return to a more normal economy. The state earns about $52 million a month in gaming fees alone, so if those revenues go away, so does funding for education and all other state programs.

To the west, Nevada's neighbor California has gone on "stay-at-home" orders and leisure travel is not recommended and people are asked to go out only for essential business for the next three weeks.