Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak responds to a question during a news conference at the Sawyer State Building in Las Vegas,Tuesday, March 17, 2020. Sisolak ordered a monthlong closure of casinos and other non-essential businesses in order to stem the spread of the new coronavirus (COVID-19).
Published Tuesday, April 28, 2020 | 5:14 p.m.
Updated Tuesday, April 28, 2020 | 6:10 p.m.
Gov. Steve Sisolak said today he would announce a plan Thursday to begin reopening the state from the coronavirus shutdown, though no details were released.
More announcements are expected before the plan — Nevada United: Roadmap to Recovery — is unveiled, he said.
“I look forward to this next phase in the battle against COVID-19 — one that will be federally supported, state managed and locally executed,” Sisolak said via Twitter.
Sisolak ordered all nonessential businesses closed in mid-March, later extending the shutdown through the end of this month.
Last week, Sisolak outlined basic requirements for businesses in Nevada to begin to incrementally reopen, including a downward trajectory of coronavirus cases and hospitalizations over 14 days, the ability to protect vulnerable populations and protective measures in businesses.
Sisolak on Monday announced Nevada would join the Western States Pact with Washington, Oregon and California to coordinate a transition toward normalcy. The pact’s shared principles include: prioritizing residents’ health and safety, using science to guide decisions on stay-at-home orders and stressing the states will be most effective if they work together.
Some states have begun to outline reopening plans.
Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday outlined a four-phase plan to gradually reopen the state when hospitalization rates due to coronavirus begin to stabilize. Still, California remains focused now on obtaining more protective gear for essential workers and increasing testing and tracing of the virus.
In the next phase, likely just weeks away, parts of the economy such as retailers and manufacturers will begin operating again, possibly through curbside pickup at stores. Childcare and summer schools along with parks, trails and other outdoor spaces may also be allowed to reopen.
Some governors have already announced longer shutdown periods. In Louisiana, where New Orleans was a viral hotspot, Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards announced the state’s businesses would remain shut down until May 15. Other governors, such as Connecticut Democrat Ned Lamont, New York Democrat Andrew Cuomo and New Jersey Democrat John Carney, have extended their shutdowns until mid-May as well.
Sisolak has stressed the need to take the reopening slowly so there are not further infection increases in the state.
“If we don’t do this in a controlled and informed manner, we will be hit like a tidal wave in a few weeks,” he said. “I don’t want this to happen to our state."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
