Clark County Commissioner Jim Gibson listens during chambers inside the Government Center on Tuesday, July 17, 2017.
Friday, May 8, 2020 | 1:17 p.m.
Clark County commissioners voted today to move forward with the governor’s plan to reopen businesses shuttered amid the coronavirus pandemic with no additional restrictions.
On Thursday, Gov. Steve Sisolak detailed guidelines for some businesses to reopen Saturday, including occupancy caps, mandatory employee face coverings and social distancing requirements.
Individual counties, however, have the option of imposing stricter guidelines.
Commission Chairwoman Marilyn Kirkpatrick recommended the county not implement any additional restrictions, and the rest of the board agreed.
Commissioner Jim Gibson said restarting the economy is “as much an anticipated moment as I can think of in the years I’ve been in public office.”
“We have all wanted for us to come to a time where we can reopen and begin to address the effects of all of this in our economy and lives of the people here in the valley,” he said.
The governor ordered Nevada casinos and other nonessential businesses closed in mid-March to help curb the spread of the virus.
The first phase of reopenings includes retail stores, hair and nail salons and dine-in restaurants, which will be allowed to operate at 50% capacity.
Other businesses, including casinos, nightclubs, bars and indoor malls, will remain closed until further notice.
“This has been a really trying time for everyone. I think it’s important for our constituents to know that none of that has been lost on us,” Gibson said.
Commissioner Tick Segerblom urged employers to respect some of their employees’ possible hesitance to return to work.
“This is a two-way street, and we want to make sure employees are protected too,” he said.
