Washoe County hints at debate over enforcing Nevada s mask mandate rgj.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from rgj.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
County Commission Chair Bob Lucey last month launched a pair of ill-fated attempts to unilaterally drop the social distancing rule, and at least partially part ways with the mask mandate.
But on Monday, despite loud, sustained pushback from constituents, Lucey said it was time to put forward a plan that would pass muster with the state.
“The best we can do for you today is move forward with an endorsed plan that brings local authority back to Washoe County,” he said. “We can move forward as a community or we can sit here and continue to be divisive, and I don’t think anyone in this community wants to continue to be divisive.”
Governor Steve Sisolak today said all Nevada counties can completely open June 1, 2021. A COVID-19 mask mandate, however, will remain in place.
Sisolak cited positive numbers of people, particularly seniors, who have been vaccinated as a main reason to reopen the state.
“It’s because of this progress that I am proud to announce the goal of having every county in Nevada reopen to 100 percent on June 1,” he said. “I am confident that if Nevadans continue to remain vigilant as more and more people get vaccinated, we can accomplish this together.”
Sisolak said about 40% of Nevadans 16 and older have started the process of getting vaccinated and about 25% of Nevadans are fully vaccinated.
Amid mask complaints, Nevada hits new daily virus death toll
December 17, 2020 GMT
RENO, Nev. (AP) Nevada reported a new record number of coronavirus deaths for a single day on Wednesday, the morning after Reno-area residents voiced strong objections to lawmakers about mask mandates, business restrictions and school closures.
The 57 deaths topped the previous record of 50 set last Thursday, and they came as the state nears the 200,000 milestone of diagnosed cases of COVID-19.
The Southern Nevada Health District in Las Vegas tallied almost 1,900 of the additional cases and 43 of the new deaths.
Caleb Cage, state COVID-19 response chief, said officials have charted a statewide average of more than 2,500 new cases per day for the last seven days.