Governor Sisolak ReOpening Plans/Announcements

Governor Sisolak has a press conference this evening. I didn't have a good article link so I used twitter to get some transcripts from the governor and some questions from local journalists. There is an article link and the video at the end:

The conference covered many topics, but those of interest to us are:
(From Sisolak's Twitter Feed, where he posts a transcript)

In the Q&A part:

Here is an article that includes the video if you're interested.
https://news3lv.com/news/local/today-at-5-pm-gov-sisolak-to-update-nevadans-on-phased-in-reopening

 

I'm not sure where to put this.

The Nevada Gaming Control Board has made a couple of changes to their guidelines for the casinos. They are now requiring all guests at table games to wear masks.

Here are the changes:





The full, updated document is here - https://gaming.nv.gov/modules/showdocument.aspx?documentid=16731


Licensees must require patrons to wear face coverings at table and card games if there is no barrier, partition, or shield between the dealer and each player. This requirement applies to table and card game players, spectators, and any other person within 6 feet of any table or card game.

 

Governor Sisolak had a press conference tonight where he addressed the rising coronavirus rates in Nevada.

Here is a transcript from his twitter feed:

Nevada is continuing to operate in Phase 2 of our Roadmap to Recovery plan, allowing our medical, public health and emergency response professionals to evaluate and analyze new trends, including what is now a four week upward trend of new daily cases.

We are still watching the continued increase in our confirmed and suspected COVID-19 hospitalizations as well. Recently, that number reached 439 cases in Nevada’s hospitals statewide, however, patients requiring ICU beds and ventilators continues to hold steady.

The Nevada Hospital Association is regularly evaluating the effects of COVID19 on staffing, PPE supplies and bed capacity. At this point, the hospital association continues to remain confident they can serve the needs of all Nevadans.

I want to take a moment to remind everyone where we’ve been. Our goal for Phase 1 was to flatten the curve. Nevadans responded to the challenge and we were able to lift some restrictions.

To go to Phase 2, our goal was to achieve 14 days of flat or decreasing positive test rate and hospitalizations. Many Nevadans acted responsibly, and after achieving those goals, we reopened much of our economy.

At that time, I mandated Nevada businesses and employees who interact with the public wear face coverings and continued to strongly encourage members of the public to wear face coverings as well. Unfortunately, as you can see from the data, we have taken some steps backwards.

Clearly for many, the excitement and enthusiasm for escaping our confinement and finally being able to enjoy dinner out with our families, buy new clothes or get a haircut, overshadowed the good judgement we practiced in the previous months.

So I want to put it to you like this: If back in March, before we shut down our economy, I said to you: we can keep our economy open if everyone agrees to wear masks and maintain 6 feet in person-to-person distance. Who would have not accepted that offer?

I don’t know why or when protecting our health and our neighbors’ lives became a political, partisan or even philosophical decision. For me it’s none of those. It’s a medical necessity, a human obligation and it’s good for business.

Study after study, worldwide, every notable medical professional from President Trump’s top advisor, Dr. Fauci, to all of our Nevada medical professionals, assert one unassailable conclusion: Wearing face coverings saves lives, period.

We owe it to each other to accept the fact that wearing face coverings saves lives. We owe it to the many workers, health care professionals, retail clerks, restaurant workers, grocery store employees to accept that fact. We owe it to Nevada’s many businesses to accept that fact.

My fellow Nevadans: I’m offering us all another opportunity to limit our risk for exposure and infection, and to keep our businesses open and our economy moving. For Nevada to stay safe and stay open, we must make face coverings a routine part of our daily life.

That’s why, today, I signed a directive with a new requirement for Nevadans and visitors to wear a cover their nose and mouth with a mask or face covering, when in public space, whether publicly or privately owned. This directive is effective on Friday. (Thursday at midnight)

This especially applies to indoor activities in which you are near other people, including grocery stores, retail businesses, malls and gaming properties. Detailed guidance is available online at http://NVHealthResponse.nv.gov.

There are exceptions, including those with medical conditions that make it difficult to breathe, those with a disability that prevents them from wearing a face covering, and young children between the ages of two and nine. The full list is outlined in the guidance online.

I encourage all businesses to prominently post signage to alert customers and help ensure this directive is followed. I know there are some businesses who have already required face coverings for customers and I thank you for this strong and helpful stance.



Businesses that fail to meet requirements in this directive will face violations from licensing agencies and regulatory authorities, in addition to Nevada OSHA. A reminder as well that businesses have the right to ask a patron to leave if they are not following this directive.

But it’s not just on the businesses or state and local government – it’s on all of us. I am asking individuals throughout Nevada to take this seriously and understand the risk you are posing on yourself and others by not wearing a face covering.

I don’t want to have to take steps backward by imposing stronger restrictions on those identified as high risk if I don’t have to – and the best way to prevent that is to not let a business type or industry become high risk in the first place. It's on all of us, Nevada.

To be clear, due to the data and time needed for evaluation of contact tracing and impacts of this new face covering directive, any discussion of entering Phase 3 will be tabled. The pandemic is not over, we are still in the middle of the first wave of COVID.

I know Nevadans are worried not only about their health but also about their jobs and commerce. They keep asking, “What can I do to help?” You can do this. Everyone can. This simple act is this is not only a way for us to save lives, but a way for us to save the Nevada economy.

 

Here is a link to the order the governor just signed:

https://nvhealthresponse.nv.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Directive-024-Face-Coverings.pdf

 

Today Governor Sisolak has extended the Phase 2 reopening through July:



He also tweeted:

Today, I signed a directive extending Phase 2 of Nevada’s reopening plan until the end of July, consistent with my announcement last week. The extension is necessary due to trends in our #COVID19 data. Please, remember to wear a face covering and practice social distancing.

If statewide trends do not improve or get worse, I will not hesitate to take any action necessary to protect the public, including reinstituting previous restrictions. I am currently reviewing all the data to determine potential next steps.

 

Governor Sisolak called a press conference for 6:30 pm tonight, Vegas time. He is making some rollbacks. The full details will be released tomorrow, but here is what he said and what we know.

Here is his Twitter thread about the press conference:
https://twitter.com/GovSisolak/status/1281417459166138369

And here are the important parts for us:

On Bars:

On Restaurants:

On Pools:

Specific details will be released tomorrow, but journalists have already been able to confirm a few things.

From Riley Snyder:

Sisolak says he spoke with federal health &FEMA officials RE COVID Says feds advised that if NV "did not take swift policy action," we would likely soon be in a "precarious condition where hospitals are overwhelmed with patients."


From Howard Stutz:

Yes, casinos are included Statement from the governor's press spokeswoman - "Bars inside casinos - in the counties that must close bars - will have to close." Patrons can get drinks, but can't sit at bars in a casino.



And here's the article from Nevada Independent. They are continuing to update:
https://thenevadaindependent.com/article/sisolak-orders-bars-to-close-in-counties-with-largest-covid-19-caseloads-limits-on-restaurant-dining

This is different guidance on pools than what we have been hearing.

I will update this again when we get the full order tomorrow.

 

Governor Sisolak is having a press conference right now.

In a nutshell:

"Every decision we've made ... came with risks. Let me assure you that there are no win-win decisions in battle against COVID." Each one is "gut-wrenching." "Protecting lives and livelihoods is like dancing on the head of a pin."

Although there are encouraging signs in the numbers, Nevada continues to have a high prevalence of COVID-19.

Four Counties:Clark, Elko, Nye and Washoe will keep bar closure mitigation measures.

Sisolak says over the next week, his team will be creating a "long-term mitigation strategy" for the state, to be announced next Monday. They are trying to figure out a plan to deal with specific businesses, and get rid of the "Phases".

Governor says "our long term strategy will have a goal of stricter enforcement of our safety rules." May mean property closures when businesses show pattern of noncompliance. "No more excuses. If people aren't following the rules to keep us safe, there needs to be consequences.

Includes that: Any gaming property found in noncompliance with COVID-19 guidelines could have part or all of their property closed by state gaming regulators

"Ensuring businesses and communities enforce our mitigation efforts are key in helping reduce the spread, which is why our long term strategy will have the goal of stricter enforcement of our safety rules. This will include measures that aim to ensure that business establishments who serve unmasked patrons may be closed if it’s a pattern of non-compliance, and that non-compliant resorts could have part or all of their property closed for a period of time."


Here is the Nevada Independent article on the presser:
https://thenevadaindependent.com/article/sisolak-bars-can-reopen-in-three-counties-remain-closed-in-las-vegas-and-reno-new-statewide-plan-coming-next-week

 

Trying to decide where it's best to put this.

Governor Sisolak Announces New, Targeted Approach to COVID-19 Mitigation in Counties Deemed at Elevated Risk:
https://thenevadaindependent.com/article/sisolak-announces-new-targeted-approach-to-covid-19-mitigation-in-counties-deemed-at-elevated-risk

Here is how it will work:

The three criteria are:

• The average number of tests per day per 100,000, calculated over a 14-day period. If this number is less than 150, a county could be considered at risk.
• The case rate per 100,000, calculated by taking the number of cases diagnosed and reported over a 30-day period. If this number is greater than 200, a county could be considered at risk.
• The case rate per 100,000 and the test positivity rate, calculated over a 14-day period with a seven-day lag. If the case rate is greater than 50 and the test positivity rate is greater than 7.0 percent, a county could be considered at risk.

Counties that meet no criteria will be considered “low risk,” those that meet one will be “growing risk,” those that meet two will be “moderate risk” and those that meet three will be “high risk.”

Based on each county’s risk level, they could be put on one of three mitigation levels: the baseline level, which means following current directives; mitigation level one, which could include targeted action to address spread, limits on capacity in high-risk settings and limits on public gatherings to no more than 25 people; and mitigation level 2, which could include targeted action to address spread, removal of business licenses for non-compliant business and a possibly return to the state’s Phase 1 guidance.

 

https://thenevadaindependent.com/article/sisolak-lifts-50-person-limit-on-gatherings-allowing-live-entertainment-and-large-events-to-proceed-with-restrictions

Governor Sisolak had a press conference today where he announced expanding the in person gathering limits from 50 people to 250 people or 50% of capacity, whichever is less. There is also some guidance for larger venues, like sports stadiums, which is in this article.

I expect this will mean some small conventions and shows could be returning in the foreseeable future. However, we don't have any announcements yet.