Benjamin Hager/Las Vegas Review-Journal/Pool
Gov. Steve Sisolak discusses Nevadas recent COVID-19 figures during a press conference at the Grant Sawyer State Office Building on Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2020, in Las Vegas.
Published Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2020 | 5:52 p.m.
Updated Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2020 | 6:35 p.m.
Gov. Steve Sisolak is calling for Nevadans to continue following COVID-19 mitigation guidelines as infections rates spike across the country.
“This pandemic has been exhausting and overwhelming, but our mission must remain unchanged,” Sisolak said on Tuesday.
The White House COVID-19 report places Nevada in the red zone for cases, meaning it has more than 100 cases per 100,000 residents. The Silver State has the 24th highest case count in the country, and the 14-day positivity rate for the state is 9.1%. That rate last broke 10% on Sept. 1
In total, the United States has surpassed 8.2 million infections, with over 220,000 deaths. In Nevada, that number is more than 91,000 infections and 1,700 deaths.
Sisolak stressed that following guidelines, including wearing face coverings and socially distancing, is important to curb any spike before it gets out of hand.
“If, like me, you want to open more, and not less. If you want to get your kids back in the classroom,” Sisolak said. “If you want people to be able to return to their jobs, this is what it takes.”
He also referenced so-called “COVID fatigue,” stating he understood the original claim during the opening weeks of the pandemic was that it would take 15 days to flatten the curve. The first confirmed case of the coronavirus in Nevada was announced March 5.
“COVID wasn’t supposed to last this long. We all feel COVID fatigue, and it results in riskier behavior and complacency,” Sisolak said. "We cannot let that happen. Unfortunately, this virus doesn’t get fatigue — it’s alive and well.”
The governor said he has no desire to order any further business shutdowns, stating that Nevadans’ behavior in regard to the virus is important to ensure restrictions can continue to be loosened.
“I hope we never get to that point,” Sisolak said. “Ultimately that point is going to be based on the behavior and the assistance that I get from every Nevadan.”
Sisolak criticized members of the federal government who are more flippant about facial coverings without directly stating any names. President Donald Trump has regularly eschewed wearing masks and contracted COVID-19 in late September.
“I know that the behavior of certain officials at the highest level of our government run contrary to the public health experts,” Sisolak said.
Sisolak said the state is in regular contact with the Vice President Mike Pence’s coronavirus task force on the topic of a potential vaccine. While he promised more details on the state’s plan for any potential vaccine next week, he said any vaccine would be “extremely limited” in the beginning.
The state intends to make any vaccine available to front-line workers and the state’s vulnerable population first, he said.
