Thread by @GovSisolak

Today I will be providing important updates on Nevada's COVID-19 response. Follow along on twitter & click the link below to tune in now: youtube.com/channel/UC3DFs…

First: an update on vaccinations. A little over a month ago I asked @NVNationalGuard, @NVEmergencyMgmt & the State Immunization Team to work together to identify challenges and implement solutions. The progress and results have been remarkable.

Earlier this week, FEMA released a report saying that, “Nevada continues to perform among the top in the country in administering the states allocation of vaccine.”

As of yesterday, more than 307,000 first doses have been administered to Nevadans and reported to the State system, along with over 82,000 second doses – totaling more than 390,000 doses administered statewide.

I want to thank our federal partners who in recent weeks have provided substantial support to our state in the form of personnel – providing us staff to help alleviate the data backlog and vaccinators to get more shots in arms.

I also want to thank our many local partners, including the local leaders, vaccinators, volunteers and organizers on the ground. This is a herculean task and would not be possible without your tireless efforts.

We are ready & able to vaccinate more Nevadans as soon as we get more doses. We are grateful for the recent increase from the federal government, but we know Nevadans are anxious to be vaccinated and we will continue to work with our federal delegation to fight for more doses.

I'm proud of the partnerships we have built & am excited that Walmart + Sam’s Club pharmacies will begin administering vaccine through the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program. More than three dozen NV locations will participate, offering a convenient location for residents.

Vaccines have provided us some hope during the worst of this pandemic. Like the rest of the country, Nevada experienced multiple surges over the recent winter months, resulting in record positivity rates, case counts, hospitalizations & mortality.

Vaccines have provided hope during the worst of this pandemic. Like the rest of the country, Nevada experienced multiple surges over the recent winter months, resulting in record high numbers.

The good news: we've also recently experienced positive progress in our COVID trends

As of February 11:
- test positivity rate over the last 14 days is 14.3%
- average number of daily new cases over the last 14 days is 684
- Nevada Hospital Association reported Nevada is continuing to see a downward trajectory in hospitalizations

It’s important to look back at where we’ve been as we chart our path forward. Our recent progress is significant, but we also started at record highs – and our trends today are still double what we experienced in mid-September after recovering from the summer surge.

That’s why the next steps we take must be strategic & responsible. Plans for a safe reopening must focus on mitigating spread while
✔️getting Nevadans back to work
✔️protecting & recovering our economy
✔️getting our students back to in-person learning in the safest way possible

I also know that Nevadans want & deserve predictability about our path forward. This is what was front of mind as we developed this Roadmap to Recovery Safe Reopening Plan. This plan is aimed at ensuring success for the long term & providing predictability thru a clear timeline

That’s why today I am announcing our timeline for a safe reopening – which starts this Monday, February 15, and goes through May 1. In a moment I’ll walk through more specifics, but I wanted to start by providing a quick overview:

February 15:
-First round of capacity limits will be lifted at various levels based on risk-level of the activity or business-type identified by health experts
-Gatherings will be lifted to allow 100 people or 35 percent capacity, whichever is less, with strict social distancing

Feb. 15: Large Gathering Plans may once again be submitted to local health authorities for review & to appropriate state agencies for approval, in line with the same Large Gathering Plan process initiated last fall. Large gatherings can only begin to take place starting March 1.

March 15: the next round of capacity and gathering restrictions will be lifted with a full return to pre-Pause levels...

-almost all businesses in the state return to 50% capacity

-gatherings to 250 people or 50%, whichever is less, with strict social distancing requirements

Finally, on May 1, the goal is for the State to transition decision-making authority on mitigation management of businesses and activities to local authorities. I’ll speak more on this big step in a moment. Below is a summary of this timeline ⬇️

As we ease restrictions, we must follow the science & studies, which say that closures to certain settings are more impactful in reducing disease transmission. According to the experts, mitigation measures in these high-risk areas should be extended longer and eased responsibly.

COVID transmission risk increases with:
-number of individuals in one location
-ability to wear masks
-amount of ventilation
-length of exposure

That’s why we will take this responsible approach and ensure all settings have the support they need to reopen safely.

Beginning on February 15 here is what will be moving to 35% capacity:
- Places of worship
- Gyms, fitness studios, yoga studios, martial arts studios, and similar establishment
- Gaming floors
- Arcades, racetracks, bowling alleys, pool halls and similar activities

When it comes to restaurants & bars: INDOOR dining & beverage service will be at 35% capacity. Outdoor dining won't have a capacity limit, but will have to adhere to social distancing requirements. Reservations will no longer be required and # of patrons per table will move to 6

The following will be moving to 50 percent on February 15: Libraries, museums, art galleries, aquariums and zoos.

Additionally, Public gatherings and events can increase to 100 individuals or 35% of fire code capacity.

Organizations may begin submitting large gatherings plans beginning on Feb 15, but no events can resume until March 1 & only if reviewed by local health authorities and approved by appropriate state agency -- the same process that was in place prior to the initiation of the Pause

The next big date is March 15. On March 15, all the businesses operating at 35 percent will be able to move to 50 percent capacity. Public gatherings will also move to 250 people or 50 percent capacity. This will return the State to full pre-Pause levels.

From now until May 1, retail stores, indoor malls, and community/recreational centers will remain at 50%. Spas, massage establishments, hair salons, nail salons & similar businesses will continue to operate w/ social distancing requirements under authority of licensing boards

Certain high-risk businesses and activities – adult entertainment establishment, nightclubs and day clubs, and brothels, will remain closed until at least May 1.

Below is a snapshot of the timeline for our safe reopening plan. More specific guidance will be shared shortly.

And finally, May 1 marks the date where we hope to reach our ultimate goal of transitioning mitigation management to local authority...

In order to reach this goal, counties will have from now thru the end of April to demonstrate a decrease in COVID trends, adequate hospital capacity & evidence that they can continue performing an adequate level of testing and other response efforts for their communities.

Even when we move to local management, specific statewide protocols will remain in place to mitigate the spread, including but not limited to the mask mandate and other social distancing requirements.

Between now & then, the COVID Task Force will work w/ counties to develop plans that will help prepare for a smooth transition to local control beginning May 1. They'll also continue to monitor the COVID situation in each area of NV & provide State assistance as needed.

To our local leaders: I know that your communities trust you the most. That’s why I’m asking for you to talk directly to your neighbors about the importance of getting the next 75 days right so we can transition to local COVID management.

The best part of this plan is that it’s in the hands of every Nevadan – every community. If we all want to see this transition to local control, let’s work together to continue decreasing our community transmission.

Providing an adequate amount of time between the first step of reopening & transition to local authority allows local leaders time to prepare, allows the State to monitor the impact of vaccinations & allows health officials time to monitor any potential impacts of new variants

One of my main priorities is to get children back to school in the safest way possible. To date, 16 of 17 counties have been able to bring students back in some fashion...

Clark County School District, our largest school district, has also been working hard to make this happen, but as of today, more than 300k students have not been inside a classroom for close to a year.

Fortunately, on March 1, students in pre-K through 3rd grade will have opportunity to return to school in Clark. Recently, the CDC said that school reopening can be done in a safe way, but only if we’re doing everything we can to manage community transmission outside the schools

This reopening timeline takes this into consideration. We have to do everything we can as a State to make sure the reopening of our largest district is successful, in addition to protecting the students who are already back in classrooms throughout Nevada.

These children, our educators, our bus drivers, our school nurses - they are worth protecting and prioritizing in this moment. I know all Nevadans will agree. We are going to make it through this.

The goal of this plan is to avoid a scenario where I have to come before all of you again & pause our efforts. I don’t want to do it. I believe this plan can work, but we must all invest in making it successful.

Nevada...this plan gives us 75 days to trust the science, listen to our public health experts, mask up, get a vaccine if eligible, practice social distancing and see our numbers decline.

I want to see our children return to in-person learning in the safest way possible. I want to see Nevadans get back to work. I want to see small businesses thrive. I want to help relaunch our missed and needed convention business...

I want to see business travel to NV make a comeback – boosting our economy & putting folks back to work. I want to give health care workers a needed break from 11 straight months of shift after shift caring for COVID patients.

I want to return to the Nevada we know and love – but I want to come back even stronger. Together, we can do it. There is hope. Shots are getting into arms & the American Rescue Plan brought forward by the Biden-Harris Administration will provide economic relief.

That plan, paired the vaccination efforts, will be a tremendous help to the State of Nevada. But until then, we must continue to mitigate the spread.

Thank you for joining me today, Nevada!