Regional Novel Coronavirus Updates: Tuesday, May 26
10:10 p.m. | May 26, 2020
Nevada Can Enter Phase 2 Of Reopening Process Friday
Governor Steve Sisolak announced Tuesday night that the state will enter Phase 2 of the reopening process on Friday. He also said he has confidence that the gaming industry will be able to open on June 4. He pointed to a downward trajectory of the percentage of positive COVID-19 cases and a decrease in the trend of COVID-19 hospitalizations during Phase 1.
In Phase 2, Nevadans can increase in-person private and public gatherings from no more than 10 people to no more than 50 people, including religious services. Also, bars and gyms will now be able to reopen, with certain restrictions. Sisolak said social distancing practices should be followed, with people maintaining six feet of distance from each other, and people should wear facial coverings. Vulnerable populations should continue to shelter in place.
Some businesses will remain closed: adult entertainment establishments, brothels, day and night clubs, and live sporting event and performance venues with live spectators.
Read all of the details of Phase 2 here. This phase will last for 2-3 weeks as state officials monitor public health data.
Sisolak was originally scheduled to deliver Tuesday’s announcement during an early evening press conference, but that event was canceled because he was potentially exposed to the coronavirus. Instead, the governor shared his prepared remarks and held a press call.
The governor explained on Twitter that he recently visited an unnamed work site where an employee tested positive. That employee was not onsite on the same day as Sisolak’s visit. The governor said that he is not experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 and he canceled the press conference out of an abundance of caution.
8:42 p.m. | May 26, 2020
Washoe County Sees High COVID-19 Cases Among Homeless Community
By Stephanie Serrano
The Regional Information Center is reporting 54 new COVID-19 cases in Washoe County Tuesday. Currently, there are 604 active cases; this is the highest active case count in the county since the start of the pandemic.
Eighteen of the new cases are attributed to individuals who are facing homelessness in the area. This data comes from testing conducted on May 14 by an out-of-state laboratory. The lab did not meet a 72-hour timeframe to report back the test results. The Incident Management Team said they have stopped working with the vendor and are still working to get more tests for vulnerable populations with an appropriate turnaround time.
Additionally, there are 63 individuals currently hospitalized, about 800 recoveries and a total of 54 deaths.
Washoe County To Test Asymptomatic Residents For COVID-19 Next Week
By Stephanie Serrano
Washoe County has announced that there will be asymptomatic COVID-19 community testing. Any county resident will have the chance to be tested for the virus during the week of June 1, regardless of symptoms.
Residents are required to schedule an appointment starting Friday online or over the phone at 775-328-2427.
Testing will be open from 8 a.m. to noon.
Lassen County Slows Down Reopening Phases
By Stephanie Serrano
Kenneth Korver, Lassen County’s public health officer, retracted the county’s accelerated plan to reopen Tuesday. The new order keeps the county in stage 2, which doesn’t allow dining in at restaurants, in-store retail shopping, salon visits or in-person worship.
The order is effective for the next seven days or until rescinded by the health officer. The order comes after the county saw its first handful of COVID-19 cases, which officials said are due to outside travelers, after not having any identified cases since the start of the pandemic.
Washoe County Libraries Announce Soft Reopening Phase
By Stephanie Serrano
The Washoe County Library System has been closed since mid-March out of caution to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, but Washoe County residents will soon have access to limited local library services starting June 15.
The Washoe County Library System announced they are expecting to offer grab-and-go or drive-up services to pick up resources.
Prior to the pandemic, nearly 10,000 residents visited the libraries each day. Currently, all physical programs are canceled through August 31.
Quad-County Reports Two New COVID-19 Cases
By Stephanie Serrano
Carson City Health and Human Services is reporting two new positive COVID-19 cases: a male from Lyon County under the age of 18 and a man from Douglas County in his 60s.
Currently, there are a total of 176 identified cases with 44 still active. The Quad-Counties, which stretch across Carson City, Lyon, Storey and Douglas County, have had a total of four COVID-19-related deaths.
Gaming Control Board Discusses Rules For Reopening
By The Associated Press
Nevada gambling regulators said Tuesday they may require the state’s shuttered casinos to test all front-line resort workers for COVID-19, have a plan to isolate infected visitors and take other steps to slow the coronavirus spread before they can reopen. Regulators held a three-hour workshop Tuesday to discuss rules for keeping both visitors and workers safe. Gaming Board Chair Sandra Douglass Morgan promised what she called a final “industry notice” by Wednesday with rules for casinos to reopen. That would give Nevada's 460 gambling license holders the seven days' notice the board promised to enact plans to sanitize surfaces, keep gamblers safe distances apart and protect workers.
Trump Administration Says Nevada’s Reopening Plan Unfairly Targets Religious Gatherings
By The Associated Press
The Trump administration is raising concerns that Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak's plan to lift coronavirus restrictions unfairly targets religious gatherings. In a letter to the Democratic governor, the Department of Justice warns that limits on those gatherings are more strict than those on businesses, such as restaurants, and may be unconstitutional. Sisolak's phased reopening plan restricts services to 10 people in places of worship or to drive-in religious services. Sisolak's office did not immediately respond to messages about the letter.
Regional Novel Coronavirus Updates: Monday, May 25
8:50 p.m. | May 25, 2020
Washoe Co. Reports 2 Deaths Monday, Death Toll Now 54
Washoe County health officials are reporting two additional COVID-19 deaths Monday, bringing the death toll there to 54. The most recent victims were a woman in her 90s with underlying health conditions and a woman in her 80s with underlying health conditions.
There were also 27 new cases announced Monday and three new recoveries. Total cases in Washoe have surpassed 1,400 and there are nearly 560 active cases.
In the Quad Counties, there were five new positive cases reported Monday and three more recoveries. There have been 174 cases in that region, which includes Carson City, along with Lyon, Douglas and Storey Counties. There have been four deaths and 45 cases remain active.
The new cases include four Carson City residents and one Douglas County resident.
Sisolak To Discuss Potential Phase 2 Reopening Plan Tuesday
By KUNR Staff
Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak will hold a press conference Tuesday evening at 5:30 to discuss the next phase of the state's reopening plan. You can listen to that press conference on KUNR.
Sisolak released a statement Friday saying that phase 1 of reopening was enacted just over two weeks ago. Since then, state officials have been monitoring data trends. He said that if Nevada's COVID-19 data continued to reflect positive or consistent trends over the Memorial Day weekend, he will announce a plan to enter phase 2.
Sisolak said that June 4 is the target date to reopen Nevada's gaming industry
The Nevada Gaming Control Board is holding a workshopTuesday morning to provide information on COVID-19 response measures at resort hotels.
California Churches Can Resume In-person Services, With Certain Limitations
The Associated Press
California says churches can resume in-person services but the congregations will be limited to fewer than 100. Worshippers should wear masks, avoid sharing prayer books and skip the collection plate.
The state Department of Public Health released a framework Monday for county health officials to permit houses of worship to reopen. Most have been limited to online and remote services since March, when Gov. Gavin Newsom's stay-at-home order took effect to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
Newsom has been relaxing those restrictions for restaurants and other businesses. Several thousand churches had vowed to defy Newsom's order on May 31, which is Pentacost Sunday, a major holiday for many Christians.
The Associated Press is also reporting that health officials say two church services that were held without authorization on Mother's Day have been sources of outbreaks.
Mendocino County public health officials say six more people who participated in a service at Assembly of God Church in Redwood Valley contracted the virus, raising the number of cases to nine and making the outbreak responsible for a third of local infections.
Meanwhile, Butte County health officials say two of 180 people who attended a church service in Oroville have tested positive for COVID-19.
Free Masks Available To Humboldt County Residents
By KUNR Staff
Humboldt County health officials are encouraging residents to wear masks and stay six feet apart from others. Residents can message Stop Coronavirus in Humboldt County Now to get a donated N95 mask. Free cloth masks are also available from a group called the Mucca Mask Makers. They are in stock at local pharmacies or you can message @MuccaMaskMakers. The group has sewn more than 5,000 masks and is looking for donated supplies.
Humboldt County has had 78 positive cases of COVID-19, with the latest case announced on Friday. It’s a man in his 30s who is a close contact of another reported case. He is self-isolating at home. The county has had 13 recoveries and four deaths. 60 cases remain active. You can find the latest updates here.
Regional Novel Coronavirus Updates: Sunday, May 24
7:47 p.m. | May 24, 2020
Washoe County Reports 2 COVID-19 Deaths Sunday
The Regional Information Center is reporting two additional COVID-19-related deaths in Washoe County Sunday: a woman in her 40s and a woman in her 70s. Both women had underlying health conditions. There are a total of 52 deaths in the county now.
Additionally, 17 new COVID-19 cases were identified Sunday with eight recoveries.
Currently, there are 537 active cases with 59 people hospitalized.
El Dorado County Reports 7 New Cases Friday
KUNR staff
El Dorado County identified seven new COVID-19 cases on Friday. According to the Tahoe Daily Tribune, the seven cases were connected to a previous COVID-19 diagnosis in the household. Six of those individuals are children and are the first cases in the county who are in the 17-and-under age group. The seventh case in the house fits the 18-49 age range. The county’s online dashboard is reporting a total of 74 positive cases there.
Quad Counties Report Four New Cases Sunday
Carson City Health and Human Services is reporting four new positive cases and no additional recoveries of COVID-19 in the Quad-County region.
Three cases have been identified in Lyon County: A man in his 20s, a man in his 40s and a man in his 60s. The fourth identified case is a Carson City resident, a male in his 50s.
The four new Quad-County cases bring the total number of COVID-19 cases to 169, with 122 recoveries and four deaths; 43 cases remain active.
In Douglas County, which includes Minden and Lake Tahoe, officials released COVID-19 data by zip code for the first time on Friday. That’s according to the Tahoe Daily Tribune. There is a possibility that some cases are counted in a zip code but not in a county because zip codes don’t match county boundaries.
You can find all COVID-19 information provided by Quad County officials here. The Quad Counties include Douglas, Storey, and Lyon Counties, along with Carson City.
Nevada Goes Virtual For Memorial Day
The Nevada Department of Veterans Services is extending an invitation to all Nevadans to participate in their online Memorial Day ceremonies. The virtual celebrations honor those who served in the nation’s wars. The videos include photos and people saluting their honorees in both Northern and Southern Nevada.
Lyon County Church Files Lawsuit During In-Person Worship Ban
By KUNR Staff
A Lyon County church is suing Governor Steve Sisolak, Attorney General Aaron Ford and the region’s sheriff over what they claim is a First Amendment violation.
According to The Nevada Independent, the federal lawsuit filed Friday comes after officials regulated in-person worship. It argues that banning the practice during the COVID-19 pandemic is unconstitutional.
As of May 9th, Sisolak allowed certain establishments, like restaurants and nail salons, to reopen with social-distancing protocols but representatives of Calvary Chapel Dayton Valley say large numbers can gather at those locations. In the complaint, church representatives argue that the number of people attending the newly opened spaces are similar to those who may attend in-person worship.
The legal action also identifies several ways the church has prepared for a safe return like shorter services, social distancing and new cleaning protocols. More than 190 pastors in Nevada signed a letter urging Sisolak to lift the in-person worship ban earlier this month. The letter now has more than 200 signatures.
Pandemic Causing High Unemployment In Tourism-Dependent Economies
The Associated Press
The coronavirus pandemic has been particularly brutal to the tourism-dependent economies of Nevada and Hawaii. Nevada's unemployment rate was 28.2% in April. It's the worst any state has seen since the national jobless rate was estimated at 25% in 1933 during the depths of the Great Depression.
Looking at April, Michigan came in second-highest with 22.7% unemployment and Hawaii was third with 22.3%. In Michigan, job losses were spread across all sectors, with especially large losses in hospitality and manufacturing.
Regional Novel Coronavirus Updates: Saturday, May 23
7:53 p.m. | May 23, 2020
Washoe Co. Reports 50th COVID-19 Death Saturday
The Regional Information Center for Washoe County is reporting one new COVID-19 related death, a male in his 80s with underlying health conditions. The current death toll as of Saturday is 50. In addition, 5 new COVID-19 cases are being reported, bringing the total number of cases to 1,361. There are 530 active cases.
In the Quad Counties, officials reported four new positive cases Saturday. They include one Lyon County resident, one Douglas County resident and two Carson City residents. That region has had 165 positive cases and 39 remain active.
Statewide, Nevada is reporting 7,696 positive cases and 392 deaths related to the virus.
Governor Steve Sisolak Appoints A New COVID-19 Response Director
The Associated Press
A Reno man who is a veteran of both the U.S. Army and state government has been appointed by Gov. Steve Sisolak as Nevada's COVID-19 response director.
Caleb Cage was appointed to the federally funded position after serving most recently as the incident commander for the state's COVID-19 response. He previously served as head of the State Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security and as an administrator in the Nevada System of Higher Education.
Sisolak said Cage will be responsible for coordinating resources and working with multiple federal, state and local entities to respond to the pandemic.
As a note of disclosure, the license to this station is owned by the Board of Regents for the Nevada System of Higher Education.
Lassen County Identifies First Two COVID-19 Cases Since Start Of The Pandemic
By Bree Zender
Lassen County was one of the few counties left in California that did not have any known positive cases of COVID-19 among its residents.
That changed Friday night when two positive cases were announced. Lassen Incident Command officials said the number has increased due to more testing being conducted through a drive-thru clinic at Lassen Community College in Susanville.
The people who tested positive are being quarantined, and county officials said they are working to identify close contacts of these individuals
California Warns Residents To Practice Social Distancing During Holiday Weekend
The Associated Press
Californians are entering the Memorial Day weekend with newly expanded options for beachgoing, barbecue and, of course, retail therapy as stay-at-home restrictions eased across much of the state.
Some 45 of 58 counties have received permission to reopen most stores and many public spaces by meeting state standards for controlling the coronavirus.
Expected high temperatures will lure people to beaches, hiking trails and bike paths. Authorities are warning visitors to practice social distancing and other other anti-virus measures, noting that the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths continues to rise - just more slowly.
Nevada Launches System To Accept Weekly Unemployment Claims From Gig Workers
The Associated Press
Nevada has finally launched a system to accept weekly claims from non-traditional workers for unemployment benefits authorized by the federal government.
The Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation announced Saturday that Nevadans eligible for the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program could begin filing weekly claims. The new program will include gig workers, independent contractors and 1099 workers
The department made the announcement about 2 1/2 hours after saying it and its vendor had worked “tirelessly” overnight to launch the system as scheduled at 8 a.m. but that “technical complications” delayed the launch.
The new system is independent of the traditional unemployment insurance system. State officials reported that Nevada had 7,696 COVID-19 cases with 392 deaths as of Saturday.
Regional Novel Coronavirus Updates: Friday, May 22
6:44 p.m. | May 22, 2020
Two COVID-19-Related Deaths In Western Nevada
By Bree Zender
The Regional Information Center said a man in his 80s with underlying health conditions is the 49th COVID-19-related death in Washoe County. Officials reported 40 additional positive cases of the virus Friday, and 17 recoveries.
In Washoe County, 1,356 people have tested positive for the disease, 764 of whom have recovered. Fifty-eight people remain hospitalized.
Carson City Health and Human Services reported a man in his 60s has died from the effects of COVID-19. Officials said Friday it is unknown whether or not he had underlying health conditions. This is Carson City’s fourth COVID-19-related death.
CCHHS also reported two new positive cases and six recoveries in the Quad Counties region, which includes Carson City, as well as Lyon, Storey and Douglas Counties. A total of 161 people have tested positive for the disease in that area; 37 of those cases remain active.
One additional person has tested positive in Humboldt County, bringing its total number of cases to 78; 13 have recovered.
Sisolak: Casinos Could Open Up As Soon As June 4
By Bree Zender
Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak said Friday he plans to set a tentative target date of June 4 for reopening casinos in Nevada.
In an announcement, Sisolak said he will be explaining more on resorts and casinos, as well as detailing the next phase of Nevada's reopening plan on Tuesday, May 26.
As far as casinos go, the governor said gaming properties will be required to submit reopening plans to the Nevada Gaming Control Board for approval seven days before reopening. The board is expected to hold a workshop Tuesday to provide information on COVID-19 response measures at resort hotels.
Nevada is currently in ‘Phase One’ of its reopening plan at the moment, with open restaurants and retail establishments, though there are restrictions.
3:27 p.m. | May 22, 2020
Nevada’s Unemployment Rate: 28.2 Percent, Highest In The U.S.
By Bree Zender
In April, Nevada had an unemployment rate of 28.2 percent. That's the highest rate in the nation, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
That's up more than 21 points from March's rate of 6.9 percent. Before any pandemic safety measures, the state's unemployment rate in February was at 3.6 percent.
The BLS report released Friday said job losses were particularly heavy in the leisure and hospitality industries.
Meanwhile, California's unemployment rate soared to 15.5 percent in April. That's a jump of more than 10 points since March, and higher than the national average of 14.7 percent.
Washoe County To Randomly-Select Residents For Antibody Testing
By Bree Zender
The Washoe County Health District is conducting a study to determine how COVID-19 has spread throughout the community through antibody testing.
One thousand, one hundred and eighty-one randomly-selected homes will be receiving a letter, inviting one adult house member to get an antibody test, and the remaining members receiving a “regular” COVID-19 test. Washoe residents who do not receive a letter will not be eligible to participate.
County officials are asking letter recipients to respond no later than May 26. Results are expected to be published in late June or early July.
Forty More People Test Positive For COVID-19 In Washoe County
By Bree Zender
Washoe County Health Officials reported 40 new positive COVID-19 cases on Friday, with 17 recoveries. For the second straight day, no additional deaths have been reported.
In Washoe County, 1,356 people have tested positive for the disease, 764 of whom have recovered. Fifty-eight people remain hospitalized, and 48 people have died from the effects of COVID-19.
One additional person has tested positive in Humboldt County, bringing its total number of cases to 78, 13 have recovered.
Regional Novel Coronavirus Updates: Thursday, May 21
7:51 p.m. | May 21, 2020
Recoveries Outpace New Cases Of COVID-19 In Northern Nevada
By Paul Boger
Health officials in Washoe County are reporting the largest single-day increase in COVID-19 recoveries since the start of the pandemic.
According to the Regional Information Center, 47 people in the Reno-Sparks area officially recovered from the novel coronavirus Thursday.
At the same time, health officials said 11 new cases of the disease have been confirmed.
In total, 1,316 people in Washoe County have tested positive for COVID-19. Forty-eight people have died. There are still more than 500 active cases.
In the Quad-Counties region, recoveries also continue to outpace new cases. Carson City Health and Human Services reported Thursday that nine people recovered while six others tested positive for the novel coronavirus.
Statewide, 7,255 people have contracted the virus. Three hundred and eighty-one people have died.
Health Officials Investigate COVID-19 Spike In Nursing Home
By The Associated Press
Nevada officials have opened an investigation into a spike in COVID-19 deaths among residents of a Las Vegas nursing home that accounts for about one-fourth of the 93 deaths tied to the virus at all state-regulated institutions. The Department of Health and Human Services reported that 24 residents of The Heights of Summerlin have died from the novel coronavirus. Media reports said as many as 16 of the facility's residents' deaths were registered on Wednesday. A department spokesperson said the deaths happened over a longer period of time, but the nursing home failed to report the deaths in a timely fashion. Nursing homes and long-term care facilities have become a hotspot for novel coronavirus cases in recent weeks. Earlier this month, the Reno Gazette Journal reported on a Reno nursing home, Lakeside Health and Wellness, that accounted for half of the total number of novel coronavirus deaths reported in Washoe County at the time.
State Issues Warning Against California Counties That Open Too Fast
By The Associated Press
Most California counties have won state approval to move ahead with reopening restaurants and other businesses but a few are defiantly ignoring the rules. California has warned Tulare County — just west of Inyo County in the Sierra — that it might lose disaster relief funds after supervisors there voted this week to allow barber shops, movie theaters and churches to reopen without state permission. Meanwhile, at least 33 of 58 counties have gotten the nod to permit some activities barred by the state's stay-at-home order, including dining in restaurants.
Regional Novel Coronavirus Updates: Wednesday, May 20
8:23 p.m. | May 20, 2020
Washoe Co. Reports No New Deaths, Urges Caution Ahead Of Memorial Day
By Noah Glick
Washoe County officials report that 10 new cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed and 11 more people have recovered.
Up to this point, 1,305 Washoe County residents have tested positive for the virus, according to the county’s Health District Officer Kevin Dick.
Health officials said there haven't been any new deaths Wednesday. Forty-eight people in Washoe County have died so far.
Wednesday's numbers mark a decrease in the prevalence of new cases, after multiple days with dozens of new cases reported.
Dick warns people that holidays and gatherings can lead to another surge of cases.
“I’m glad that we’re seeing ten cases today, but I think that it’s a reminder that we still have a significant number of cases occurring in the community, and so, therefore, it’s very important for people not to become relaxed and to put their guard down,” Dick said. “We all need to remain vigilant.”
Dick said it’s important to continue to limit gatherings to ten or fewer people, maintain six feet of distance between people and to wear face coverings in public.
Current Washoe County Hospital Capacity (all patients):
- Acute Care Beds: 71% occupied
- Intensive Care Unit Beds: 49% occupied
- Ventilators: 17% in use
Nevada Responds To Trump’s Threats To Withhold Funding
By Noah Glick
President Donald Trump took to Twitter Wednesday, threatening to withhold federal funds to Nevada. He said he is upset at the state’s decision to move its June primary to a mostly mail-in ballot.
State of Nevada “thinks” that they can send out illegal vote by mail ballots, creating a great Voter Fraud scenario for the State and the U.S. They can’t! If they do, “I think” I can hold up funds to the State. Sorry, but you must not cheat in elections. @RussVought45 @USTreasury
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 20, 2020
Secretary of State Barbara Cegavske’s office released a statement saying the decision is legal, and “provided a way to protect the health and safety of voters and election workers in Nevada.”
Assembly Republicans weighed in on Twitter, saying, “the real issue with our primary is the backroom deal Dems made in Clark County,” referring to the decision by the state Democratic Party to drop a lawsuit after Clark County agreed to expand in-person polling sites.
Democratic Governor Steve Sisolak called the threat, “inappropriate and outrageous.” But perhaps the biggest rebuke from a Democrat came from Senator Catherine Cortez-Masto, who tweeted back at the president, saying “perhaps you’ve moved on to bleach and it’s even further impairing your judgment.”
The Republican National Committee has requested Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford to investigate whether the decision to move to a mail-in election violated open meeting and election laws.
Cegavske, a Republican, has said that the decision was done in partnership with election officials from all of Nevada’s 17 counties.
Humboldt Co. Announces Fourth COVID-19 Death
By Noah Glick
Officials from Humboldt County Tuesday reported its fourth death due to the effects of COVID-19.
Humboldt County Health Officer Dr. Charles Stringham said the individual was a woman in her 50s, who was hospitalized at the time of her death.
In a county release, Stringham is asking the public to "commit to doing all the right things to stop the virus."
Humboldt County also confirmed two new cases Tuesday and another Wednesday, bringing its total number of diagnoses to 77.
The county is holding a free walk-in community COVID-19 screening, Thursday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Orovada Community Center.
Quad Counties Report Three New COVID-19 Cases
By Noah Glick
Carson City Health and Human Services is reporting three new confirmed cases of COVID-19 and two new recoveries in the Quad-County region that encompasses Carson City, as well as Douglas, Lyon and Storey counties. The total number of cases in the area is now up to 153, with three total deaths.
The new cases include two male Carson City residents in their 30s, and a male Douglas County resident in his 60s.
County breakdown:
- Carson City: 77 total cases, 25 active cases, 49 recoveries, 3 deaths
- Douglas County: 26 total cases, 4 active cases, 22 recoveries, 0 deaths
- Lyon County: 49 total cases, 16 active cases, 33 recoveries, 0 deaths
- Storey County: 1 total case, 0 active cases, 1 recovery, 0 deaths
Coronavirus Leading To Privacy Concerns
By The Associated Press
The coronavirus has sparked concerns about how private medical information is being used. An Associated Press review shows that health officials in at least 35 U.S. states are sharing the addresses of those who test positive for coronavirus to first responders who request it. Ten of those states, including Nevada, also share names. Law enforcement officials say first responders use the information to take extra precautions that help them avoid contracting and spreading the disease. But civil liberty and community activists have expressed concerns of potential profiling in African American and Hispanic communities that already have an uneasy relationship with law enforcement.
Nevada Arts Council To Offer Emergency Grants To Nonprofits Impacted By COVID-19
By Noah Glick
The Nevada Arts Council said it will be awarding grants to nonprofit arts organizations in the state that have seen attendance plummet due to COVID-19.
According to the council, 96% of Nevada’s nonprofit arts organizations have had to cancel events, leading to financial losses of more than $3 million.
“These funds come at a time when these organizations need it most and will allow the creativity, innovation, and inspiration of the arts community to continue to uplift us while contributing to the economic stability of our state,” Nevada Arts Council Executive Director Tony Manfredi said in a press release.
The noncompetitive, non-matching grants will be between $1,000-$10,000, according to the release. Interested parties can apply between June 1-15.
Las Vegas To Start Testing Thousands Of Casino Workers
By The Associated Press
Testing for the novel coronavirus is due to start Thursday for the first of tens of thousands of Las Vegas casino employees being tapped for job callbacks before resorts reopen. State gambling regulators have not given the go-ahead or a date for lifting the closure of all gambling establishments in Nevada. But several casino companies, tourism, hospital and union officials announced Tuesday that testing will start with scheduled appointments for notified employees at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Employees will not be charged a fee.
Expect Masks, Sanitizer, Smaller Classes When California Schools Reopen
By The Associated Press
California's schools superintendent says he expects classes for the state's 6 million students to resume as usual in late August or September, but with classes that look radically different to maintain social distancing standards. Superintendent Tony Thurmond says he expects a mix of in-person and distance learning with fewer children in classes, hallways and other common areas to halt the spread of the coronavirus. He says students and staff will likely wear masks. California's schools have been closed since mid-March when the governor issued a statewide order for people to stay at home.
Get Caught Up:
- May 19 | Regional Updates
- Washoe Co. Health Officials Say More Cases Indicate Community Spread
- Elko Co. Reports One New Case Tuesday
- Quad Counties Report Five New Cases Tuesday
- Nevada Gets Nearly $89 Million From CDC For Testing
- More Than 6,000 People Sign Up For Nevada’s Health Insurance Exchange During Special Pandemic Enrollment Period
For continued updates on the novel coronavirus in Nevada, visit our updates and resourcespage.
