N
evada broke its record for the fourth-highest single-day increase in COVID-19 cases as people across the state celebrated the Fourth of July amid the pandemic Saturday. The Nevada Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) reported 843 new COVID-19 cases and four new COVID-19-related deaths across the state.
In addition, only 49 percent of businesses were found to be complying with the new face-covering mandate ahead of the holiday weekend, according to data released by the Nevada Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
Gov. Steve Sisolak issued an emergency directive June 24 making face masks mandatory in Nevada effective the following day at 11:59 p.m. Sisolak pointed to the increasing number of cases and said the state is not ready to move to Phase 3. He said any discussion of that is tabled for the time being. The state transitioned into Phase 2 of reopening on Friday, May 29, after a directive in mid-March that forced all non-essential businesses to close to avoid the spread of the coronavirus.
Nevada OSHA said it observed 204 business on Thursday, July 2, and found only 49 percent complied with the new requirements. “The noncompliance numbers reported by State officials are disappointing and unacceptable a week after the face coverings directive was issued,” said Gov. Sisolak moments after the report was released.
According to OSHA data, overall business compliance rate is 85 percent in northern Nevada and 65 percent in southern Nevada since the start of the mandate. “If these concerning reports on noncompliance continue, I will not hesitate to take swift and decisive actions next week directed at targeted industries or areas that are experiencing concerning COVID-19 trends and non-compliance,” Gov. Sisolak said, KSNV reports.
The Department of Business and Industry said 61 percent of home improvement stores and 48 percent of bars are not following the state’s directive. In addition, grocery stores and casino-hotels were listed at 40 percent and 33 percent respectively.
State officials said more than 850 businesses have been inspected since June 26, the effective date of Directive 024. “We are really concerned when we see that businesses are not having their employees and the customers follow the mandates,” says Division of Industrial Relations Interim Administrator Victoria Carreon. She also said problem industries will be targeted for more inspections in the future.
“We will make sure that the Governor’s Directives are being followed. so we are putting all the staff that we can to assist to determine what the compliance level is,” she said. “It’s a top priority for us.”
“To the businesses who are complying, I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart on behalf of all Nevada. You’re protecting our businesses, our health, our jobs, our economy and your industry.” said Gov. Sisolak. “To those businesses operating in violation of the directive by not implementing safe social distancing and face-covering protocols, you’re not only jeopardizing people’s health but you’re also jeopardizing your fellow businesses, your industry, and our overall economy.”
Nevada has reported its five largest single-day increases for COVID-19 case in the past two weeks. Its biggest jump was 1,099 on Friday, June 26, followed by 985 on July 2, 857 on July 3, 843 on July 4 and 821 on June 27.
While cases increased, so did testing, with 8,458 tests conducted statewide in the last day. This is the sixth-highest single-day increase in testing. Nevada’s cumulative test positivity rate is up for the 18th day in a row, at 7.3 percent. According to the hospitalizations data provided by the state, Nevada is up 760 confirmed and suspected cases. Hospitalizations have been ticking up since mid-June when they averaged in the mid-300’s.
