Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak demonstrates a sneeze into his sleeve during a news conference on the coronavirus at the Sawyer State Building Friday, Feb. 28, 2020. The demonstration was meant to show how to control the spread of the virus in the event there is no facial tissue.
Friday, Feb. 28, 2020 | 6:45 p.m.
Related content
Surrounded by other state leaders at a news conference Friday afternoon, Gov. Steve Sisolak spoke of the state’s preparation to handle the coronavirus, which some fear could become widespread in the United States.
Sisolak took a fatherly approach in his guidelines, most of which centered on basic hygiene. The governor, remarking that his advice sounded much like what he told his daughters and children, stressed the importance of residents washing their hands, refraining from touching their face and cleaning frequently touched surfaces on a regular basis.
“These are simple steps, but they’re also the best way every Nevadan can take precautions,” Sisolak insisted.
The head of the World Health Organization said Friday that the risk of the virus spreading worldwide was “very high.” Melissa Peek-Bullock, the Nevada state epidemiologist, did not go as far, but said the state needed to be ready to react. There have been 63 confirmed cases of the respiratory virus in the United States, with at least 2,462 people worldwide.
“I think we just have to be prepared for that to happen,” she said.
Officials in neighboring California on Thursday announced the state had 33 confirmed cases and 8,400 people being monitored for symptoms. Three individuals have been tested for the virus in Nevada, and all three tests were negative, said Mark Pandori, the director of the Nevada State Public Health Laboratory. Test results are available in four hours, he said.
Sisolak said that there were no plans to end travel and tourism between California and Nevada and that he is in regular contact with California Gov. Gavin Newsom. Multiple times during the event, Sisolak stressed the importance of entities and organizations working together to tackle the virus’ spread.
“We’re going to prepare, not panic,” Sisolak said. “We’re going to choose collaboration over chaos.”
The group of officials and lawmakers, which included Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford, Clark County Commission Chairwoman Marilyn Kirkpatrick and Assembly Speaker Jason Frierson, followed Sisolak’s lead in urging that residents remain calm. The event included state, local and federal leaders, showing the importance of being transparent and keeping Nevadans informed, Sisolak said.
“Communication, knowledge and transparency are key in this evolving situation, and we will be working diligently to ensure that accurate and relevant information continues to be shared with the public,” Sisolak said.
Sisolak also stressed two important facts: There hasn’t been a coronavirus death in the United States, and “for the general American public, who are unlikely to be exposed to this virus at this time, the immediate health risk from COVID-19 is considered low,” according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“I want Nevadans to understand the large-scale collaboration taking place across the state, and the commitment of each of the individuals who have been working on this issue for months,” he said. “They represent hundreds of more Nevadans in their respective fields and regions they serve — all waking up every day with the same mission: to prepare and protect the health and safety of the public.”
On Friday afternoon, a major summit of Asian leaders scheduled for Las Vegas in the second week of March was postponed by the Trump administration over growing fears of the coronavirus further spreading in the United States. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations event is believed to be the first conference or convention canceled in Las Vegas because of the virus.
The governor wasn’t ready to comment on the economic impact of the cancellation and said he did not want to get into “hypotheticals” about future events such as the upcoming NFL Draft in late-April. Tourism leaders are also paying attention to the situation.
