Sisolak urges Nevadans to stay home for 2 weeks to combat COVID surge

By John Sadler

Published Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2020 | 6:10 p.m.

Updated Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2020 | 8:26 p.m.

Gov. Steve Sisolak is telling Nevadans to stay at home as much as possible over the next two weeks in response to rising COVID-19 cases in all corners of the state.

If the “deeply concerning” trends aren’t slowed, Sisolak said he would consider again shuttering the economy. It was closed for about 80 days beginning in mid-March, bringing historic unemployment rates and crippling the state with a $1 billion deficit.

“I’m not bluffing, I’m not playing a game,” Sisolak said. “We are in a very crucial point right now.”

Sisolak said visitors are still welcome in Las Vegas, but only if they wear a mask and follow safety protocols such as social distancing and frequent hand washing.

Sisolak stressed that Nevada can “safely reduce” the spread of the disease if people comply without requiring any business shutdowns. That effort starts with residents rededicating themselves to staying at home.

“If you don’t have to go out, don’t go out,” Sisolak said. “Reduce your time in public to what is necessary and limit any and all exposure to those outside your household.”

Health officials reported 1,322 new COVID-19 cases and seven deaths on Tuesday, increasing the statewide totals to 112,304 confirmed cases and 1,859 deaths since the start of the pandemic. The state positivity rate sits at 13.7% over the past 14 days.

Health officials on Monday flagged 10 of the state’s 17 counties as “high risk,” including Clark County in the Las Vegas area and Washoe County in Reno. Small counties, such as Elko, Lincoln and Lyon, have also been hard hit.

“If we take action now, we can keep our businesses open and reduce the spread of COVID-19,” Sisolak said.

Sisolak encouraged people to work from home as much as possible and said employees working in-person should wear masks at all times. Business meetings, he said, should be as small in number and as brief as possible.

Sisolak said he is asking local governments to step up enforcement of mitigation measures in businesses over the next two weeks, including citations and fines. He said if numbers don’t improve after two weeks, he will take stronger measures to combat the virus.

“If we don’t turn things around, cases will continue to grow, hospitalizations will increase and ultimately overwhelm our hospitals, and medical staff and first responders will continue to have increased risk of exposure — resulting in staff shortages across our state,” Sisolak said.

Sisolak said multiple times that he does not want to order the shutdown of any other businesses and that he does not think he will have to do so if “everyone cooperates.”

Further steps will be more restrictive, although Sisolak would not indicate what they might be, stating that it would depend on the rates at the end of the two-week period.

“I’m not going to come back in two weeks and say ‘I’m going to give you another chance’ because I’m not going to give you another chance,” Sisolak said.