Previously, I asked nonessential businesses to close, but this moment now demands more.
Today, I directed ALL nonessential businesses to close. I repeat. If you are NOT an essential business, I am using my power as Governor under an emergency declaration to order you to close.
Today, I directed ALL nonessential businesses to close. I repeat. If you are NOT an essential business, I am using my power as Governor under an emergency declaration to order you to close.
This decision, like the others before it to close our schools and the industry that is the lifeblood of NV, was incredibly difficult to make. But we must grasp the gravity of our new reality as we battle this invisible enemy. If #HomeMeansNevada to you, #StayHomeForNevada.
Just after my press conference today, Nevada's total number of positive cases increased. And because this developed elsewhere before arriving in Nevada, we don’t have to guess at what comes next: the numbers aren’t slowing down, and we have not yet reached our apex.
And as our cases increase and our situation becomes more dire, literally by the hour, I will continue to face the challenge head on with more drastic measures than I had previously anticipated in order to protect ALL Nevadans. I’ll meet this moment.
While I’m so proud of all those who’ve put their State before themselves & committed to #StayHomeForNV, we know that not everyone stepped up. And for those of you who’ve reached out, frustrated that certain businesses or leaders were endangering your families, I heard you.
This directive grants local governments the authority to impose civil fines & revoke licenses of businesses that do not shut down. If businesses defy this order, it could be treated as a criminal act. Do not let it come to that. This is effective from midnight until April 16th.
The virus is going to get worse before it gets better. Like so many other states, NV’s health system will not be able to handle an excessive increase in patients all at once without rapidly straining resources. Without aggressive mitigation, an outbreak can turn into a crisis.
Statewide, we have fewer than 5,000 acute care beds. Of those 5,000, fewer than 700 are ICU beds that are better equipped to handle COVID-19. More than 80% of those beds are occupied. That means we have only 20% of beds available. We have similar limits with ventilators.
If we don't do everything we can to slow this virus, hospital beds will soon be completely filled with COVID-19 patients. There will be no beds to set broken bones, treat heart attacks, or use for other necessary procedures. That's Italy now--don’t put doctors in that position.
Like other states, we don’t have enough test kits to know the full scope. Test results are only a snapshot of how many tests are completed. They do not account for all those that are likely walking around with this virus who don’t even know it because they aren’t symptomatic.
Despite countless calls, relentless pushing, & even begging the federal gov't for additional test kits & supplies, they've come up drastically short. This is our unfortunate reality. While we will continue fighting for resources from the federal gov't, it's ultimately up to us.
The State’s health & emergency management team is moving forward to protect public health through every appropriate means, including by accessing the open market. TY to the hard-working & brilliant doctors working on our Medical Advisory Team who support these measures.
This is a situation that demands honest & transparent leadership. I’ll continue to tell you the facts & deliver the good & the bad news because that's what you deserve. The people of NV will remain my North Star as we navigate uncharted waters & make painstaking decisions.
Waiting one more day to begin taking serious action to mitigate this virus is one more day of Nevadans getting sick and dying. And if someone is telling you otherwise, they are either mistaken, or recklessly incorrect. That's the truth. That's reality.
This is not the time to try to find loopholes--if your business is not essential to providing for the everyday safety, health, and well-being of Nevadans, you must shut down. We must give our health care workers and our fellow citizens the best chances possible to fight #COVID19.
This is our only chance at “flattening the curve.” We need to move quickly and creatively to slow the tsunami that is headed our way. We need to put up strong barriers. We have to slow down the flow so that our health care system can manage this challenge.
Our choice comes down to how long we want this to drag on. Is it better to let it linger and hope it resolves itself while our economy continues to worsen and Nevadans get sick and die? No. That’s not what we do. We will choose to face the facts, & listen to medical experts.
It feels like the world has turned topsy-turvy. But if, and only if, Nevadans come together and put each other first, we can turn the world right side up again. If #HomeMeansNevada to you, #StayHomeForNevada.
