Coronavirus: Nevada governor issues 3-week ‘statewide pause’ amid COVID-19 surge

CARSON CITY, Nev. — Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak rolled out stricter restrictions Sunday in a bid to thwart the surge of COVID-19 infections sweeping the state.

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“From the start of this pandemic, there aren’t any decisions that don’t have negative consequences. Weighing the loss of jobs and businesses versus the loss of health and lives is painful, without a perfect solution,” Sisolak said during a Sunday news conference.

In turn, Sisolak’s new restrictions, referred to as a “statewide pause,” take effect Tuesday and will be in place for at least three weeks, the Reno Gazette-Journal reported.

According to the state’s COVID-19 dashboard, Nevada has reported a total of 133,888 novel coronavirus cases, resulting in 2,017 deaths since the pandemic began. The state recorded a single-day record of 2,836 new cases on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Sisolak said during his Sunday news conference that the statewide COVID-19 positivity rate has reached a “record 16.5%” and “every minute, a Nevadan is diagnosed with COVID-19.”

“We are on a rapid trajectory that threatens to overwhelm our health care system,” he added. “Whether you believe in the science of COVID or not, the reality is this: It’s simple. COVID is filling our hospital beds.”

According to the Nevada Current, masks are now mandated in the presence of any individual living outside of one’s household, both indoors and outdoors; only restaurant patrons actively eating or drinking may remove their masks; and capacity at gyms, fitness and dance studios as well as martial arts studios has been slashed from 50 people to 25.

“If the activity is too strenuous to wear a mask, you must choose another activity,” Sisolak said.

Click here and here to learn more about the increased restrictions.

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Cox Media Group