COVID-19 pandemic in Nevada

On March 5, 2020, Nevada reported its first case of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The patient, a man in his 50s, recently traveled to Washington state and lives in Las Vegas.[6][7]

On March 12, 2020, because of concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic, Nevada governor Steve Sisolak declared a state of emergency. Nevada became the 24th state to do so because of the pandemic.[8] Sisolak also formed a five-member team of medical experts to advise him during the pandemic.[9]

On March 13, 2020, courts in the state began taking actions to protect people from infection.[10] This included social distancing and the suspension of certain proceedings. Some court hearings continued through videoconference.[11]

On March 15, 2020, MGM Resorts and Wynn Resorts announced that they would close their properties on the Las Vegas Strip to help prevent the spread of the virus.[12] A day later, Nevada reported its first death from the coronavirus: a man in his 60s, from Las Vegas.[13]

Reno–Tahoe International Airport, largely empty during the pandemic (March 20, 2020)

On March 17, 2020, Sisolak ordered all non-essential businesses closed for 30 days, starting on March 18, in order to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Casinos were among businesses ordered to shut down.[14][15] More than 40 emergency food distribution sites were set up around the Las Vegas Valley to help unemployed people affected by the closures, and many casino companies donated un-used food from their resorts.[16] Such companies also donated personal protective equipment (PPE) and hand sanitizer to Las Vegas hospitals and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.[17]

Las Vegas mayor Carolyn Goodman opposed the length of Sisolak's shutdown order and instead called for a closure of 8 to 10 days, saying that Las Vegas could not survive beyond that.[18] Grocery stores, hardware stores, pharmacies, banks, and gas stations were among businesses considered essential. Police, fire, and healthcare services continued as well.[14] Construction sites were also allowed to continue operations, as Sisolak said they provided much-needed employment during the pandemic. Guidelines were issued for construction sites, stating that workers' health be checked daily and that they stay six feet apart, and that meetings be kept to no more than 10 people.[19][20] Clark County closed nearly all of its government buildings to the public for the next two and a half months.[21][22]

On March 24, 2020, Sisolak prohibited stockpiling of the anti-malarial drugs chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil), both of which were being studied as possible treatments for coronavirus.[23] He also banned gatherings of 10 people or more, in an effort to further prevent the spread of coronavirus.[24]

On March 28, 2020, Las Vegas and Clark County opened a temporary homeless shelter in the parking lot of Cashman Field, after another shelter closed temporarily due to a COVID-19 case.[25] The parking lot was originally laid out with carpeting, which was removed the following day over concerns that it could not be disinfected. Instead, white boxes were painted on the parking lot surface, indicating where homeless people would sleep while maintaining social distancing of six feet. The parking lot sleeping arrangement caused controversy as to why the homeless could not be sheltered elsewhere, such as the closed hotel resorts in the city.[26][27][28] Clark County negotiated to put the homeless in hotels, but such a deal did not work out.[29][30] A Las Vegas city official also noted that the city does not own any hotels, and that none of them were staffed anyway due to the coronavirus-related closures.[30] The actual Cashman Field facility had already been reserved as potential space for hospital overflow patients.[26]

On March 29, 2020, Washoe County reported its first death: a hospitalized man in his 40s who had recently traveled to New York City. It was the first coronavirus death to occur in northern Nevada.[31]

On March 31, Sisolak requested U.S. president Donald Trump to declare a major disaster in Nevada, giving the state greater access to federal resources.[32]

National Guard soldiers setting up emergency tents in Las Vegas

National Guard medical technician tests soldiers' respirator fit in Las Vegas

National Guard medical technician checking the temperature of a soldier in Carson City

On April 1, 2020, Sisolak extended the closure of non-essential businesses through the end of the month, in accordance with new federal guidelines issued by the White House Coronavirus Task Force.[33] Sisolak also issued a statewide directive urging residents to stay home, except for essential reasons such as healthcare visits and buying food. In addition, Sisolak activated the Nevada National Guard to help deliver medical supplies.[34][35]

On April 4, 2020, Sisolak announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency approved a major disaster declaration for Nevada.[36] On the same day, Las Vegas gave closed liquor stores a chance to compete against grocery stores by allowing home delivery of alcohol within city limits.[37][38][39] Home delivery of alcohol was approved for other areas of the Las Vegas Valley a few days later.[39][40][41]

On April 8, 2020, Sisolak ordered the closure of real estate open houses, golf courses, and basketball and tennis courts.[42]

On April 13, 2020, the Cashman Field parking lot reopened as a tented isolation and quarantine complex to treat overflow hospital patients and homeless people infected with coronavirus.[43] The complex cost $6 million.[30] A day later, Sisolak announced that an additional 700 members of the National Guard would join the coronavirus efforts. Most of them would be stationed in Las Vegas, where they would set up alternate care facilities, help with food banks, and provide medical support.[35][44]

On April 15, 2020, Mayor Goodman called Sisolak's shutdown "total insanity" and urged him to reopen the state.[45] President Trump, who owns Trump International Hotel Las Vegas, said he was fine with Sisolak's shutdown order, while acknowledging Goodman's dissatisfaction with it: "I know the mayor is very upset with it. Some (hotel and casino) owners are very upset with it. Some of the developers out there are upset. Others say, 'Hey, we have to get rid of it.' I can see both sides of that."[46][47] Goodman and the Nevada Republican Party wanted Sisolak to present a plan for reopening the state.[47] Over the next several weeks, conservatives and supporters of Trump's presidency held protests in several cities, urging Sisolak to reopen the state.[48]

On April 21, 2020, Sisolak said that Nevada was in a "phase zero" of plans for reopening the state and easing social distancing. He said businesses would not reopen until the state experienced a 14-day decline in new coronavirus cases and hospitalizations. Other conditions needed for the phase-one reopening would be additional COVID-19 testing and the use of contact tracing. Sisolak was unable to provide a date for when phase one could be implemented.[49]

In an interview on April 23, 2020, Goodman again said the closure should be ended. Goodman also said that she had previously suggested the idea of Las Vegas becoming a control group to test the effectiveness of social distancing. Goodman's interview sparked wide criticism over her idea, which had been rejected.[50] Sisolak said, "We are clearly not ready to open. […] I will not allow the citizens of Nevada, our Nevadans, to be used as a control group, as a placebo, whatever she wants to call it."[51] U.S. Representative Dina Titus, from Nevada's 1st congressional district, also criticized Goodman's idea and warned against opening up too soon, saying that Goodman should listen to scientists and healthcare specialists and "stop talking about my constituents as though they're guinea pigs in some grand experiment that she's trying to conduct."[51] Geoconda Arguello Kline, the secretary-treasurer of the Culinary Workers Union, criticized Goodman's comments as "outrageous" and said, "We want people back to work, but it has to be safe and secure and we don't want workers to be part of an experiment."[52]

On April 27, 2020, Sisolak announced that Nevada had joined the Western States Pact, a group of neighboring states working together on how to proceed with reopening. Sisolak said, "Millions of visitors from our fellow Western states travel to Nevada every year as a premier tourism destination, and this partnership will be vital to our immediate recovery and long-term economic comeback."[53]

On April 29, 2020, Sisolak extended his stay-at-home order until May 15. He said that coronavirus cases and deaths had leveled out, although he did not have a time table for reopening casinos.[54] Sisolak also signed a directive that would ease some coronavirus-related restrictions beginning on May 1, 2020. Retailers and marijuana dispensaries would be allowed to offer curbside pick-up. Golf courses, as well as tennis and pickleball courts, would also be allowed to reopen. Up to that time, several rural counties had urged Sisolak to quickly reopen the state's economy, particularly in areas that had low populations with fewer cases of coronavirus. Sisolak also issued a 90-day extension on expiration dates related to driver's licenses and other DMV documents.[54][55]

On April 30, 2020, Sisolak expressed his hope to have the state move into phase one by May 15, 2020. Casinos would not be included in the phase-one reopening, and Sisolak said that the Nevada Gaming Control Board would be responsible for decisions about when such businesses could reopen. Bars, concert venues, malls, nightclubs, and large sporting events would remain closed as well during phase one. Stand-alone retailers would be allowed to reopen in phase one, with employees and customers having to wear facial coverings. Sisolak said that county governments would be responsible for deciding when to let their communities reopen, saying that "responsible county governments, with knowledge of their unique communities and their existing local licensing and regulatory structure, are in the best position to execute the gradual reopening of the businesses and public life of their local residents." Gatherings of 10 people or more remained prohibited.[56] At the time, Sisolak had a 64-percent approval rating for his handling of the pandemic, while Goodman had a 28-percent rating.[57]

On May 6, 2020, former professional poker player Doug Polk filed a notice of intent to start a recall effort against Goodman, following her controversial comments. Polk believed that Goodman "failed to responsibly represent her constituency" and demonstrated a "clear disregard" for public health.[58][59]

On May 7, 2020, Sisolak announced that restaurants, retailers, outdoor malls, hair salons, drive-in movie theaters, and cannabis retailers would be allowed to reopen two days later, but with precautions in place. Employees, for example, would be required to wear masks, while restaurants and retailers would be limited to 50 percent of their usual capacity.[60] Meanwhile, a group of business owners and others filed a lawsuit against Sisolak over his stay-at-home order and his restriction on hydroxychloroquine. The lawsuit, in part, accused Sisolak of abusing his power and violating constitutional rights with his business closures. Sisolak was the latest U.S. governor to be sued for closing businesses. The lawsuit also named Clark County Commissioner Marilyn Kirkpatrick and other state officials as defendants.[61]

Roy Horn, a former Las Vegas entertainer and a longtime resident, died of complications caused by the virus on May 8, 2020, at the age of 75.[62]

Phase one went into effect as scheduled on May 9, 2020.[63][64]

Positive cases continued to decrease during mid-May 2020.[65] Large retailers began reopening stores in the Las Vegas Valley, with various safety measures in place.[66][67][68] Businesses in downtown Las Vegas were allowed to extend retail sales to sidewalks,[69] and the city's McCarran International Airport became the first in the United States to install vending machines that dispense personal protective equipment.[70][71] The airport also launched a public awareness campaign to inform travelers about staying safe from the coronavirus.[72][73] Meanwhile, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department had responded to 1,100 businesses that remained open rather than complying with Sisolak's shutdown order. Owners of such businesses were warned of possible jail time and revocation of their business license.[74]

On May 26, 2020, Sisolak announced that casinos would be allowed to reopen on June 4, while phase two of business reopenings would begin sooner, on May 29. Phase two would allow the reopening of bars, bowling alleys, gyms, movie theaters, pools, spas, state parks, and tattoo shops. The reopenings would require businesses to implement changes to help prevent the spread of coronavirus. Sisolak also increased public gathering limits from 10 to 50 people, and he announced that religious facilities could resume in-person services with reduced capacity and social distancing in place.[75][76] In Las Vegas, casino companies planned to open only certain resorts, and with limited amenities.[77] Ten hotels in the Las Vegas Valley agreed to accept guests from other hotel properties who have tested positive for coronavirus.[76][78]

Phase two went into effect as scheduled on May 29, 2020, with the possibility of entering phase three by June 30.[79][80][81]

On June 3, 2020, the Fremont Street Experience in Las Vegas reopened.[82] A day later, select casinos reopened as scheduled, with safety measures in place.[83][84][85]

On June 11, 2020, Sisolak announced that Nevada counties and cities would split $148.5 million in grants, provided through the CARES Act.[86] Meanwhile, the state had been experiencing an increase in new daily cases,[87] but health officials did not yet believe that it was the beginning of a second wave, based on the initial data. One reason for the surge in cases was a significant increase in testing over the previous two weeks.[88][89] The reopening of businesses also contributed to the rise.[90]

On June 12, 2020, Clark County reported the state's first case of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), a disease that is caused by COVID-19.[91]

On June 15, 2020, Sisolak announced that the state was not yet ready to enter phase three of reopening, due to rising COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations. However, he said that the hospitalizations were not numerous enough to overwhelm the state's hospitals. He also said that positive cases had already been expected to rise as a result of the phase two reopening and the increase in testing. Sisolak said the state would continue to remain in phase two.[92] On the same day, Nevada saw its highest daily increase of new COVID-19 cases: 379.[93][94] Meanwhile, the state reopened its DMV facilities for the first time in three months.[95]

By June 18, 2020, the state had received more than 600 COVID-19-related business complaints since the phase one reopening. The complaints included non-essential businesses operating when they were not supposed to, and businesses that were not enforcing safety precautions.[96]

On June 24, 2020, Sisolak ordered that face masks must be worn in all public spaces beginning on June 26.[97] Several days later, he extended phase two through the end of July.[98] In Las Vegas, the Culinary Workers Union and the Bartenders Union filed a lawsuit against the Signature condominiums, the Bellagio resort, and a restaurant at the Linq Promenade. The lawsuit requested that the businesses adopt better coronavirus safety standards, alleging that workers were not being adequately protected under current conditions.[99][100][101] The issue was eventually resolved.[102]

Positive cases of COVID-19 continued to rise through the end of the month, with indoor venues presenting the biggest risk.[103] Nevada had the highest estimated transmission rate of any U.S. state, with each COVID-19 case resulting in 1.56 new infections.[104]

On July 1, 2020, the state announced further plans to combat the virus, including increased enforcement of safety measures and hotlines for people to report business violations.[105] Meanwhile, plans to recall Mayor Goodman were ended as the effort failed to garner any signatures. The recall effort was hampered by the rise in COVID-19 cases and the fact that in-person signatures are required.[106]

On July 14, 2020, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) reported that 80 percent of the state was in compliance with COVID-19 safety precautions.[107] Meanwhile, health officials attributed recent case surges to gatherings that occurred during the Fourth of July holiday.[108]

By July 16, 2020, Clark County had been included as a "red zone" in a report filed for the White House Coronavirus Task Force. It was included in the report because the state, along with 17 others, had reported 100 new cases per 100,000 people in the week prior. Another reason was because more than 10 percent of COVID-19 testing returned a positive result. The county began evaluating whether additional measures were necessary to deal with the virus.[109]

At the end of the month, Sisolak extended coronavirus orders that limited businesses to 50-percent capacity and gatherings to 50 people.[110] He also announced that a new plan would be released the following week with updated criteria for gradual business reopenings. The new plan would move away from the system of phased openings, with Sisolak saying, "While phases made sense at the time, we've got to remain flexible and responsive to what we're seeing now."[111]

On August 3, 2020, Sisolak unveiled his new plan for dealing with COVID-19 outbreaks in counties. The plan would focus on determining the cause of such outbreaks and taking appropriate action to stop them. Such action would include shutting down facilities where outbreaks originate.[112] On the same day, President Trump reduced National Guard funding by 25 percent for Nevada and 47 other states.[113] Sisolak sought to restore full funding from the federal government, but was ultimately rejected.[114]

On August 11, 2020, Sisolak signed a law granting legal protection to many reopened business, preventing "frivolous" lawsuits relating to COVID-19.[115] Two days later, Nevada reported its 1,000th death from COVID-19.[116]

As of August 23, 2020, 18 states had placed travel restrictions on people traveling from Nevada and other states. Such people were often required to quarantine themselves upon arrival in one of the 18 states. Nevada, which is dependent on tourism, had not placed any restrictions on travelers coming to the state.[117] More than 500 visitors to Nevada had tested positive since June 1, 2020.[118]

On August 27, 2020, Nevada reported a case of COVID-19 reinfection in a 25-year-old man from Reno, who had tested positive for the virus twice, in April and June 2020.[119][120] He was the first confirmed person in the U.S., and one of five worldwide, to become reinfected.[121]

During August, the state reported its lowest number of new COVID-19 cases since June. Although new cases declined, deaths saw an increase.[122][123] The number of deaths began to decline at the end of the month, and hospitalizations also decreased compared to July. However, there was the possibility that COVID-19 had become endemic in the state.[124]

On September 3, 2020, Sisolak said the state's COVID-19 task force was reviewing county plans that would ease safety restrictions relating to churches, meeting facilities, and youth sports.[125] However, Sisolak had no criteria or timeline for when such activities could resume. Although Nevada's COVID-19 positivity rate had declined, the state was still one of 11 where the rate remained above 10 percent, and Sisolak said that Nevada had "a long way to go".[126]

On September 8, 2020, the state reported its lowest daily increase of COVID-19 cases in nearly three months.[127] Two days later, the Southern Nevada Health District reported that nine children had become infected with MIS-C and were hospitalized, before eventually being released.[128] Meanwhile, the state's positivity rate had dropped to its lowest level since June.[129]

On September 12, 2020, President Trump held an outdoor rally at Minden–Tahoe Airport, as part of his 2020 presidential campaign. The Minden rally attracted more than 5,000 people, and Sisolak criticized Trump for holding the event, as public gatherings were still limited to 50 people. Sisolak later said that Douglas County could be forced to pay back $8.9 million in funding from the CARES Act, saying that the county's approval of the event put residents at risk for catching COVID-19. Douglas County had approved the event citing First Amendment rights and the rare opportunity to host a presidential speech.[130][131] Sisolak ultimately decided not to punish the county.[132]

A day after the Minden event, Trump held a campaign rally in Henderson, marking his first indoor rally since a controversial Tulsa event in June. Sisolak criticized Trump for holding the event, citing the 50-person limit on gatherings.[130] Trump blamed Sisolak for having to hold the event indoors, saying, without evidence,[131] that Sisolak intervened and made it impossible for the Trump campaign to secure an outdoor site. Indoor events present a higher risk for contracting COVID-19.[133][134]

On September 29, 2020, Sisolak raised the limit on most public gatherings to either 250 people, or 50-percent capacity, whichever is less. Conventions, showrooms, and stadiums were allowed to resume events with reduced capacity.[135] The health districts in Clark and Washoe County complained that they had been excluded from discussions about Sisolak's latest changes.[136] The Washoe County Health District was against the changes, citing new records in COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents. Young adults accounted for most of the rising cases, and Washoe County had overtaken Clark County for new cases per 100,000.[137]

Although COVID-19 cases declined during August and September 2020, they saw a resurgence during October.[138] Cases continued to rise especially in Washoe County.[139] Safety precautions were ignored in mid-October, when President Trump attended a church service and held a campaign rally in the state.[140][141]

On October 20, 2020, Sisolak said there would be no new COVID-19 restrictions for the time being, despite the rise in cases,[142] which was attributed to residents who had grown tired of following COVID-19 precautions.[143] By the end of October, COVID-19 cases had topped 100,000 in Nevada.[144]

For Halloween, the state recommended that residents skip traditional trick-or-treating in favor of alternatives, such as online events. Facial masks were mandated for those who did participate in trick-or-treating.[145] Some residents planned to skip such activity due to the pandemic.[146]

Positive cases continued to rise in November 2020,[147] and several states once again placed travel restrictions on people arriving from Nevada. This included requirements to get tested or to quarantine for 14 days upon arrival.[148]

On November 10, 2020, because of the large increase in daily cases, Sisolak strongly urged residents to stay home as much as possible over the next 14 days, with a proposal called Stay at Home 2.0. He urged people to work from home if possible, and said the state would have to implement severe lockdown restrictions on businesses if cases did not decline.[149] He said that non-residents were still welcome to visit the state because of its dependency on tourism.[150] Three days later, Sisolak tested positive for the virus.[151]

On November 22, 2020, as cases continued to rise dramatically, Sisolak announced a three-week "pause" that would go into effect two days later. He noted that 10 percent of the state's COVID-19 cases had been reported in the past week. Under the new restrictions, certain businesses – including casinos, restaurants, bars, and gyms – would have their operating capacity reduced to 25 percent. Public gatherings would be reduced from 250 people to 50, or 25 percent of a building's capacity. Private gatherings were reduced back to 10 people.[152][153] Sisolak also restricted Thanksgiving gatherings to 10 people, from a maximum of two households.[154] Since the start of the pandemic, state hospitalizations had reached their highest level ever, with 97 percent of them occurring in Clark and Washoe County.[155] The majority of cases were occurring in young people, in their 20s and 30s.[156] Goodman criticized Sisolak's latest orders, calling him a "dictator" and stating that his actions would further harm the Las Vegas economy.[157]

Nevada continued to experience record-high hospitalizations during early December 2020, more than doubling the number of hospitalized patients from a month prior.[158][159] The state's positivity rate also reached record highs at more than 20 percent,[158][160] among the highest rates in the U.S.[161] The ideal rate would be below 5 percent.[162] Approximately 90 percent of the cases were in Clark and Washoe County, and Carson City.[161] In southern Nevada, recent Thanksgiving gatherings were considered a possible cause for the rise in cases.[163] To continue aiding the state with the pandemic, Sisolak announced an extension of the National Guard through March, marking the longest and largest deployment in state history.[164]

On December 13, 2020, Sisolak announced a four-week extension of his recent pause.[165] The next day, COVID-19 vaccinations began in the state.[166]

On December 19, 2020, the state surpassed 200,000 cases,[167] doubling the number from seven weeks earlier.[144] Hospitals continued their struggle to keep up with COVID-19 patients,[168] and the state surpassed 3,000 deaths at the end of the month.[169]

Hospitalizations saw a decline during early January 2021, although the number of daily cases and deaths had reached record highs. Health officials were concerned that cases may rise further, as a result of recent gatherings that occurred during Christmas and New Year's Eve.[170] On January 11, 2021, Sisolak extended his pause for another 30 days.[171]

Nevada began COVID-19 testing on possible patients on January 29, 2020.[177] The first positive case was reported five weeks later.[6] In Las Vegas, UNLV Medicine opened a drive-thru testing site on March 23, 2020. The facility saw high demand from residents seeking a test.[178] In April 2020, Sisolak said the state had received 3,000 reagent kits and 4,000 test swabs from the federal government. Although he appreciated the testing items, he said they "are not nearly the volume necessary for us to perform the desired amount of testing that we want and our citizens want."[179] Later that month, UNLV Medicine announced plans to work with the National Guard to expand its testing operation. More than 3,000 residents of southern Nevada had been tested up to that time.[180][181] University Medical Center (UMC) in Las Vegas also announced plans to substantially increase its testing efforts.[182] At the end of the month, plans were being finalized to start widespread testing in southern Nevada.[183]

In May 2020, the Nevada Department of Corrections reported that there had yet to be any cases among inmates. However, these results were considered questionable, as only 56 inmates had been tested out of nearly 12,500.[184] Within a month, prison testing had increased to 54 percent of all state inmates. In addition, 825 prison employees had also been tested. Seven inmates and 30 employees had tested positive up to that time, with no deaths resulting from the virus.[185]

During the pandemic-related closure of casinos, the parking garages of several resorts were utilized as drive-thru testing sites.[186][187][188] Among these was the Orleans hotel-casino in the Las Vegas Valley. It was the first testing site there to offer tests regardless of whether or not people had any symptoms. The testing site was a joint effort between Clark County, the Nevada National Guard, and UMC.[189][190][191] The Orleans site tested 14,000 people during its three-week run in May 2020, before relocating to a parking garage at University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), where walk-up visits and child testing were allowed.[192][193]

In May 2020, drive-thru testing sites opened at Wal-Mart stores across Nevada, part of the effort to add more testing sites across the state.[194] Such sites continued to increase as more test kits became available,[195] and cases of coronavirus were expected to rise as more sites opened.[196] UMC began testing casino employees at the Las Vegas Convention Center, ahead of the casino reopenings.[197][198][199] The convention center was capable of testing up to 4,000 people a day.[200] At the end of May 2020, UMC began testing all of its patients for COVID-19, becoming the first hospital in Nevada to do so. UMC had the ability to perform 10,000 tests per day, the highest in the state.[201]

In August 2020, an epidemiologist for the state's COVID-19 task force noted a seven-percent decrease in the number of tests being performed, compared to a month earlier. Possible explanations included decreased transmission of the virus, and people becoming frustrated with the testing process due to delays in getting appointments and test results.[202] At the end of the month, Clark County launched a temporary COVID-19 testing campaign known as "Stop, Swab & Go". The campaign aimed to test 60,000 people over several weeks at drive-thru test sites.[203][204] It was part of an effort to increase testing following the decrease.[123] The county sent out an emergency alert to mobile computers, urging residents to participate in the testing campaign.[205] As of September 2020, UMC had processed 320,000 COVID-19 tests, approximately one-third of all tests performed in the state.[206]

A COVID-19 Essentials store at The Forum Shops at Caesars which sells face masks.

Stores in Las Vegas began running out of facial masks in January 2020, as residents started purchasing them out of concern.[172][207] Nevada initially did not issue a mask mandate for its residents,[208] although Sisolak, in April 2020, advised residents to wear facial coverings while in public.[55] Sisolak said he did not mandate such a policy because he believed that no mandate would result in more residents doing so voluntarily: "I think it's a matter of people not wanting to be told what to do." He also noted that such a mandate had already been made by Ohio governor Mike DeWine, who had to rescind the mandate following outrage from residents there.[208]

When businesses began to reopen in May 2020, employees were required to wear masks.[60] At the time, Sisolak said that many residents were wearing them, but that some businesses were not complying as required. Sisolak urged the public to wear masks, and said that businesses refusing to do the same would face punishment. Sisolak said, "Our goal is to continue reopening more of Nevada's economy in a safe and responsible manner. What we do now will determine what we can do next. That's why compliance is so extremely important."[209]

In June 2020, it was reported that many visitors to the Las Vegas Strip were not wearing face masks.[210] Simultaneously, the Nevada Gaming Control Board ordered that players and spectators of table games must wear masks if the table does not have protective barriers installed. The board cited declines in mask usage by patrons as justification for the change in policy.[211] As cases continued to rise during June, Sisolak asked his COVID-19 advisory team to review enhanced policies regarding face masks for the public.[212] The Culinary union said it would take legal action unless gaming properties implemented more COVID-19 safety measures to protect workers, including a mask requirement for all casino guests and employees.[213]

On June 24, 2020, Sisolak ordered that face coverings must be worn in all public spaces, effective two days later. The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority promoted the new requirement as part of a public service campaign.[97][214] Mask exemptions were allowed for children under the age of 10, and people with certain medical conditions. Businesses were required to enforce mask-wearing among customers.[215] In Las Vegas, it was reported that most people were following the mask mandate.[216][217]

However, an analysis of 150,000 Twitter messages also found that Nevada was the second most-resistant state for mask-wearing, with Arizona in the top spot.[218] A political action committee called No Mask Nevada was formed to oppose the mask mandate and hold protests against it.[219] Sisolak called the protests "ridiculous".[111] In July 2020, Las Vegas began sending "compliance ambassadors" to businesses to educate them about the mask mandate. The ambassador team consisted of city staff members who had been reassigned. The workers would not enforce the mandate, but would report violations to the city.[220] Las Vegas city council member Michele Fiore proposed the elimination of the compliance ambassador program, referring to the program's team members as snitches. The measure failed to pass the council.[221] As COVID-19 cases increased, mask restrictions were expanded in November 2020, requiring gym-goers and people in private gatherings to wear masks at all times.[154]

Hospitals began postponing elective surgeries in mid-March 2020, to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.[222][223][224] A week later, Sisolak said the state did not currently have enough ventilators to fight the virus. At the time, Nevada had 718 ventilators, 32% of which were already in use.[225] In addition, Las Vegas was at risk for its acute care beds being overwhelmed by coronavirus patients.[226] By early April 2020, southern Nevada was experiencing the highest percentage of usage for hospital beds and ventilators, compared to the rural communities of northern Nevada.[227] Clark County, in coordination with UMC, announced a backup plan to convert the Las Vegas Convention Center into a low-level hospital for 900 patients, in the event that actual hospitals become overwhelmed by patients with the coronavirus.[228][229] Nursing homes took precautions against the virus,[230] but eventually saw a rise in cases.[231]

During April 2020, a company called Unacast looked at data from each state and ranked them based on how well they were practicing social distancing. Nevada was ranked at number one, with a "B+" grade.[232] Data from the Nevada Hospital Association, for the month of April, showed that the state's hospitals were never in any danger of being overwhelmed by coronavirus patients, as social distancing diminished the virus' effect on the state population.[233]

California loaned 50 ventilators to Nevada through May 1, 2020, at which point there was no longer a need for the additional units.[234][235] Elective surgeries resumed in Nevada on May 4, 2020, with COVID-19 precautions in place.[236][237] A month later, it was reported that hospitals in the state could suffer financially as a result of fewer patient visits during the pandemic.[238]

As the pandemic began in Nevada, the Renown Regional Medical Center in Reno constructed a makeshift hospital facility in its parking garage to treat a potential overflow of COVID-19 patients. The $11 million facility offered 1,600 beds, and was eventually put to use in November 2020, amid steep increases in state hospitalizations.[239] Some hospitals in southern Nevada began postponing elective surgeries once again as COVID-19 cases increased.[159]

On June 1, 2020, Sisolak announced plans to significantly increase contact tracing in the state. The effort would include the hiring of 250 workers.[240][241] In August 2020, Nevada unveiled a contact tracing mobile app for the public.[4][242] The following month, the state announced that 26 percent of residents had caught or spread COVID-19 while visiting a motel, a hotel, or a resort. The data was incomplete and was only based on people who had spoken with disease investigators.[243][244] In Clark County, hotel-casinos presented the highest risk for possible exposure.[245] In Washoe County, top places with COVID-19 cases included the Giga Nevada factory, Renown Health facilities, University of Nevada, Reno, and casinos.[246] The state had previously been reluctant to identify superspreading events and locations that were known to rapidly spread COVID-19.[247] Contact tracing efforts were reduced in December 2020, amid a rise in cases which largely nullified such efforts.[248] The state also launched an additional contact tracing app, Exposure Notifications Express.[249]

In September 2020, Sisolak signed a directive allowing state pharmacy technicians to administer the eventual COVID-19 vaccines, once they became available. The directive would ensure a quick and efficient method for vaccinating the public.[250] The following month, Nevada joined other western states in a plan to review and approve the eventual vaccines, separate from the federal government's approval process.[251]

Nevada and other U.S. states began vaccinating the public on December 14, 2020, using the Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.[166] Doses of Moderna's vaccine, mRNA-1273, began arriving in the state one week later for immediate use. Because Moderna's vaccine can be stored at higher temperatures, it was considered better for rural areas of the state, where extremely cold storage conditions would be harder to achieve.[252][253] Earlier in the year, Las Vegas was among areas in the U.S. where Moderna had conducted a study for its vaccine, due to the city's high number of cases.[254][255]

Nursing home staff and residents, as well as hospital staff and law enforcement, were among the first to receive the vaccines.[256]

Bars were among the non-essential businesses to close on March 18, 2020. Restaurants were closed for dine-in patrons but were allowed to provide drive-thru, takeout, and delivery services.[14] A week after the closures, Clark County started allowing restaurants to sell alcohol through a temporary permit. The permit only applied to restaurants with bars, and was only valid for patrons who placed food orders for curbside pick-up.[275][276][277]

Restaurants reopened for dine-in on May 9, 2020, as part of the state's phase one of business reopenings.[64] Restaurants were limited to 50 percent of their usual capacity.[60] A few days after the reopenings, the Nevada Gaming Control Board announced that restaurants inside casinos could reopen as part of phase one, on the condition that customers do not have to cross the casino floor to get to the restaurants and restrooms. Another condition, applying to large counties, would be to limit crowding among customers who are waiting to enter.[278][279] Sisolak said the reopening of casino restaurants was primarily meant to benefit small communities such as Ely – where dining options are limited – rather than places like Las Vegas. Sisolak was convinced to allow the reopening of such restaurants after rural communities urged him to do so.[209][280] Restaurants in downtown Las Vegas were also allowed to extend dining to sidewalks.[69]

Standalone bars were allowed to reopen on May 29, 2020, as part of phase two,[75] while casinos reopened a week later. QR codes allowed casino customers to get on a wait-list for restaurants and bars. Such codes were also used to provide restaurant menus on customers' cell phones.[281] Buffets – a loss leader for casinos and a popular concept in Las Vegas – remained closed as they had yet to receive approval from the state to reopen.[282] Some buffets soon reopened without self-service, utilizing other methods such as waiter service or to-go orders.[283]

On July 10, 2020, because of a rise in new coronavirus cases, Sisolak ordered the closure of bars in seven counties: Clark, Elko, Humboldt, Lander, Lyon, Nye, and Washoe.[284][285] A few days later, 37 bars in Clark County filed a lawsuit against Sisolak's shutdown order regarding such establishments. The suit alleged that bars were being treated differently than other non-essential businesses, and stated that bars were largely in compliance with safety procedures.[286][287] Two weeks after the lawsuit was filed, Sisolak announced that bars in three rural counties – Lander, Lyon, and Humboldt – would be allowed to reopen immediately. Sisolak expressed regret about the mass closing of bars in the state and said, "In hindsight, I don't know if that was the fairest way to do it," stating that many bars were in compliance with satefy guidelines.[111]

In August 2020, a judge ruled in favor of Sisolak's shutdown order on bars.[288] Meanwhile, Sisolak put the state's COVID-19 task force in charge of decisions about when to reopen the remaining bars;[289][290] they resumed business the following month.[291][292][293] In November 2020, bar and restaurant capacity was reduced to 25 percent due to a rise in COVID-19 cases. In addition, restaurants could no longer accept walk-in diners and were only allowed to serve guests with a reservation.[294]

The state's shutdown order has closed Nevada's twenty-one legal brothels. On October 30, 2020, a Nevada sex worker sued Gov. Sisolak over the closure of the state's brothels, calling it unconstitutional and arbitrary.[295][296] Sex workers have begun offering escort and in-call service, but the legality of this remains ambiguous.[297]

Like other non-essential businesses, casinos closed on March 18, 2020. The statewide closure affected 440 casinos, as well as 1,977 businesses that operated small casinos with 15 slot machines or less, such as supermarkets, restaurants and convenience stores.[298] It marked the first time that casinos on the Las Vegas Strip had been shut down since the state funeral of John F. Kennedy in 1963.[299] Like Las Vegas, Mesquite's economy is also dependent largely on tourism and casinos, and was harmed by the impact of the pandemic closures.[300]

In early May 2020, some casinos began offering drive-thru sports betting services.[301][302] Meanwhile, the Nevada Gaming Commission gave unanimous and final approval to guidelines created by the Nevada Gaming Control Board, allowing casinos to eventually reopen with reduced occupancy and increased sanitation.[303]

Questions remained unanswered regarding the impending reopening of casinos in Las Vegas.[304] The Culinary Workers Union held protests, demanding information on how casino companies planned to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and keep people safe.[305][306] Further protests, regarding the killing of George Floyd, took place in Nevada at the end of May 2020, resulting in riots as well as clashes between protestors and authorities.[306][307] It was believed that the George Floyd protests could have a negative impact on the reopening of casinos in Las Vegas due to the resulting civil unrest, something that would not attract tourists. Prior to that point, the reopening of casinos showed a pent-up demand, leading some casino companies to expand the number of properties that would reopen on the Las Vegas Strip on June 4.[307] In response to the protests, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority cancelled an advertising campaign that would have promoted the reopening of casinos.[308]

Select casinos began reopening as scheduled on June 4, 2020, after a closure of 78 days.[84] Various safety measures were put in place at casinos. Employees were required to wear masks, and guests were encouraged to do so too.[309] Free masks were offered to guests.[304] Guests' temperatures were taken at casino entrances, and those with a fever would be checked again in 15 minutes to ensure whether the initial temperature-check was accurate. Those with a confirmed fever would be moved to a temporary holding area for health questioning and would not be allowed to enter the rest of the casino. In Las Vegas, those who tested positive for coronavirus would be moved to one of the 10 hotels in the area that accepted such guests.[304][281] Seating was limited at table games, and in some casinos, plexiglass shields were installed on gaming tables and at hotel lobbies.[281][309] Hand-washing stations were set up on the casino floor in some resorts, and every other slot machine was inactive in order to promote social distancing.[309] Las Vegas casino resorts offered discounted rooms and various promotions to attract guests. Some properties also suspended their resort and parking fees.[310][311][312] Las Vegas casino companies reported a strong demand, more so than previously expected.[313]

Within a month of reopening, employees at multiple Las Vegas resorts – including the Cosmopolitan – became concerned that safety precautions were not being properly exercised. Workers were also upset that casino companies withheld the number of employees who tested positive for coronavirus, although they are not required to provide such information to their workers.[314][315][316] The Cosmopolitan was later found to be a top location for possible exposure to COVID-19.[245]

Motorists from California and Arizona made up the majority of revenue for the Las Vegas Strip during the pandemic.[317][318] Some Las Vegas Strip resorts began operating only on weekends, due to weak demand.[319] Casino capacity was reduced to 25 percent in November 2020, amid the rise in COVID-19 cases.[320] Up to that time, locals casinos in Las Vegas had performed better than those on the Strip, where resorts are dependent on tourists.[318]

Nevada, especially Las Vegas, is dependent on tourism.[321][322] A study in April 2020 found that Nevada's economy was the second most vulnerable in the United States, as 17 percent of its GDP relied on tourism.[323][324] Another analysis found that the state was most likely to be hit hardest by the economic impact of the virus.[325]

On May 11, 2020, Sisolak declared a fiscal state of emergency due to COVID-19's impact on the economy. The declaration would allow the state to use money from a $400 million emergency fund.[326] A month later, as a result of the financial problems, Sisolak proposed changes to the state budget, which included the furlough of all state employees for one day each month beginning in July. He also announced that salary increases would be subject to a pause. These measures would ensure that less than 50 employees would be laid off. Nevada faced a $900 million deficit for the budget year ending June 30, and a $1.3 billion deficit for the next year.[327][328] The Nevada Legislature approved Sisolak's proposed budget cuts, which totaled $116 million.[329] The American Hotel and Lodging Association reported that among U.S. states, Nevada would have the fourth lowest state and local tax revenue for 2020, losing an estimated $1.1 billion.[330] The Las Vegas economy is not expected to make a full recovery until some time between 2022 and 2024.[331]

Various events, including concerts and shows, were postponed or canceled as a result of the pandemic.[332][333] In Las Vegas, an ASEAN summit was postponed in February 2020,[334] followed by the cancellations of large events such as the Global Gaming Expo,[335] the Consumer Electronics Show,[336] the AVN Awards,[337] and the Electric Daisy Carnival.[338] Burning Man, an event held annually in the Black Rock Desert, was also canceled.[339]

In Las Vegas, live musical entertainment was largely prohibited, except for ambient music. Promotion and ticket sales for such entertainment were not allowed, and dancing was also prohibited.[125][340] Two long-running Las Vegas shows, Le Rêve and Zumanity, closed permanently as a result of the pandemic.[341][342] At the end of September 2020, Sisolak announced new guidelines which would allow for the return of live shows and conventions, with reduced capacity. Showrooms and theaters would have to submit safety plans, and such venues would be limited to either 250 people or 50-percent capacity, whichever is less. Large shows faced the difficulty of making a profit with such reduced capacity.[343] Stadiums were allowed to admit 10 percent of their usual capacity, and conventions were allowed to proceed with a 1,000-person limit. The changes were considered to be among the most significant advances since the start of the pandemic.[135] Officials in the entertainment industry applauded Sisolak's relaxing of COVID-19 restrictions.[344] Las Vegas casino companies intended to use rapid testing as part of a plan to resume convention events.[345] In response to an increase in the number of cases, Sisolak issued new restrictions in November 2020 that limited capacity for many venues.[152][320]

On March 29, 2020, Sisolak announced a 90-day moratorium on evictions and foreclosures for commercial and residential tenants, saying, "This is not the time to put people out on the streets. This is also not the time to evict small business owners who have been hit by the economic fallout of this pandemic."[346] Three months later, Sisolak announced that the moratorium would gradually be lifted. Owners of commercial space could begin evictions again on July 1, 2020, while certain residential evictions could resume a month later in the event that the eviction process began prior to the moratorium's issuance. Other residential evictions would begin on September 1, 2020.[347][348]

In the Las Vegas Valley, a housing assistance program was launched by the city and county to provide financial aid to renters and mortgage owners who had been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The program was funded through the CARES Act.[349][350] In addition, the Clark County Commission unanimously passed an emergency ordinance in August 2020 to protect certain renters from discrimination. The new measure made it illegal for landlords to refuse rental to people who have been financially impacted by the pandemic. A report from the month prior had found that up to 142,000 households (327,000 tenants, or 25 percent of the state's renting population) could face difficulty paying rent by September 2020. The ordinance was set to expire on December 31, 2020.[351]

Despite the pandemic, Las Vegas home prices reached record highs starting in mid-2020. Sales also increased,[352] and planned communities in the area were among the top-selling in the country during the first half of 2020.[353] The Las Vegas housing boom was attributed to low mortgage rates.[354][355] However, Nevada had also seen an increase in mortgage delinquencies since the start of the pandemic.[356]

Sisolak announced a 45-day extension of the residential moratorium on August 31, 2020. This would provide counties and the state government more time to fully implement programs – including short-term rental assistance – which would help landlords and residents. Landlords were critical of Sisolak for extending the moratorium only one day before its expiration, although he and his staff members had tried to avoid an extension.[357][358] Despite the extension, landlords were still allowed to begin charging late fees for missed rent, and could also initiate no-cause evictions.[359] In September 2020, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) issued a nationwide eviction moratorium. Some Las Vegas landlords proceeded with evictions despite the CDC order, citing financial losses.[360] In December 2020, as the CDC order approached its expiration, Sisolak reinstated the state's eviction moratorium for three and a half months.[165]

On April 8, 2020, Sisolak restricted religious gatherings of 10 people or more.[42] Three weeks later, he announced that churches could begin offering drive-in services.[55] On May 25, 2020, the United States Department of Justice Civil Rights Division informed Sisolak that his 10-person ban on churches could be a violation of the Free Exercise Clause, stating that churches in Nevada were not being treated equal with other businesses such as restaurants, which were allowed to operate at 50-percent capacity rather than a 10-person limit. Eric Dreiband, the head of the government agency, said, "We understand these directives were issued in the midst of an uncertain situation, which may have required quick decisions based on changing information. We are concerned, however, that the flat prohibition against 10 or more persons gathering for in-person worship services — regardless of whether they maintain social distancing guidelines — impermissibly treats religious and nonreligious organizations unequally."[361][362] A day later, Sisolak announced that religious facilities could resume in-person services with a 50-person limit and with social distancing in place.[75]

In July 2020, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled in a 5-to-4 decision that Sisolak had the right to limit church gatherings to 50 people. The decision came after a church in Lyon County challenged Sisolak's order. The church noted that other businesses – including bowling alleys, gyms, salons, and water parks – were allowed to operate at 50-percent capacity rather than a 50-person limit.[363][364] A federal appeals court overturned Sisolak's 50-person church restriction in December 2020, allowing for 25 percent capacity instead. The ruling was based on a new decision issued by the U.S. Supreme Court.[365]

On March 16, 2020, Eureka County announced immediate closures of certain facilities to protect its citizens from COVID-19. In addition, all non-essential travel of Eureka County employees was suspended.[366] County employees worked from home for the next month, before resuming in-person work at public offices, with safety precautions such as social distancing.[367]

Nye County reported its first case on March 18, 2020,[368] followed a week later by the city of Mesquite in Clark County.[369] Humboldt and White Pine County reported their first cases in late March 2020,[370][371][372][373] followed in early April by Tonopah, located in Nye County.[374] At that time, Humboldt County had 14 cases, the second-most per capita of any county in Nevada, with less than 17,000 residents. The county's health officer said that many residents were not taking the coronavirus seriously.[370] Humboldt County reported its first death later that month.[375]

During April 2020, seven rural counties had yet to report any cases: Churchill, Esmeralda, Eureka, Lander, Lincoln, Mineral, and Pershing.[376] This number dropped to three counties the following month.[196] Eureka County announced its first COVID-19 case in June 2020.[377] As of July, the city of Ely in White Pine County had experienced only a handful of cases and no deaths, both of which were attributed to its remote location in the state. In addition, the nearby Robinson Mine and Ely State Prison continued operations during the pandemic, which lessened the economic impact in Ely.[378] Laughlin, with its casinos and outdoor activities, was able to rely on tourism to keep its economy going.[379] Esmeralda County, with 974 residents, was one of the few counties in the U.S. without a COVID-19 case,[380][381][382] until November 2020.[383]

COVID-19 cases had remained low in rural areas during mid-2020, although private gatherings were responsible for a majority of new cases later in the year. Rural residents experienced delays in receiving COVID-19 test results, waiting up to six days in certain areas. Some rural counties were resistant to Sisolak's COVID-19 orders, with residents citing their desire for personal freedom. White Pine County passed a resolution that allowed the local sheriff and district attorney to choose when to enforce Sisolak's directives. A $50,000 county fund was also established to pay the fines for businesses that violate such directives. In addition, COVID-19 enforcement inspectors from OSHA and the Nevada Gaming Control Board were required to quarantine for 14 days upon arriving in White Pine County.[384]

On March 15, 2020, Sisolak ordered the closure of the state's schools for three weeks.[385][386] Mayor Goodman disagreed with his decision, as she wanted schools in Las Vegas to remain open, with people assigned to all entrances to check the temperatures of students.[387] Following the school closures, children were educated through online distance learning.[49] Schools throughout the state began providing free student meals for pick-up, to help families who were unable to afford food.[388] The Clark County School District (CCSD) provided free Chromebook computers to students who did not have access to a computer.[389][390]

In April 2020, Sisolak announced that schools would remain closed through the spring.[49][391] As of mid-2020, Esmeralda County remained free of coronavirus and was planning to resume in-person schooling, unlike large cities in the state.[392] Sisolak said that decisions on how to educate children would be left up to individual school districts, noting, "The number of students that are in a school in Locklock is nowhere near the number of students in a classroom in Clark or Washoe (counties). They're different. Everybody's different, and that needs to be taken into account."[111]

The Washoe County School District (WCSD) began the new school year in August 2020, through a combination of in-person and online classes.[393] However, a month earlier, the Washoe County Health District had recommended against in-person learning, citing the high infection rate in the area.[394] In addition, more than 100 Washoe County teachers had protested against school reopenings, stating that the facilities were not adequately prepared and that pandemic conditions were not yet safe for in-person learning.[395] Hundreds of Washoe County teachers – those most at risk for dying from COVID-19 – applied for distance learning accommodations, allowing them to safely teach from home. Based on guidelines from the Harvard Global Health Institute and the World Health Organization, only one Nevada school district – in Mineral County – had met the criteria to safely reopen entirely.[396] Shortly after the reopening of schools in Washoe County, 600 students were excluded from in-person classes because of various instances of possible contact with COVID-19.[397]

CCSD stated that it was better-prepared for online learning compared to earlier in the year.[390] The district installed software to monitor students' online activity and keep them focused on schoolwork.[398] CCSD began the new school year in August 2020, through online learning. However, students and teachers initially encountered technical issues due to the high number of users.[399][400][401][402]

A group of more than 100 people subsequently protested against CCSD over its use of distance learning and its impact on special-needs children.[403] Shortly before the resumption of school, eight parents had filed a federal class action lawsuit against CCSD, alleging that the latter failed to provide appropriate education for their special-needs children, as required by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.[404] The district had 42,000 special-education students.[405]

In the Las Vegas Valley, some private schools resumed in-person learning for the new school year, causing concern that such students would receive an unfair advantage over online learners.[390] Some rural CCSD schools also resumed in-person learning.[406]

On March 12, the National Hockey League suspended the season for an indefinite amount of time, affecting the Vegas Golden Knights. The NHL listed Las Vegas and T-Mobile Arena as a candidate to be one of two "hub cities" to centralize play of the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs,[407] but ultimately lost to Rogers Place Edmonton and Scotiabank Centre Toronto.[408]

The Pac-12 Conference halted its men's basketball tournament being held at T-Mobile Arena the same day.[409]

The National Football League cancelled festivities in Las Vegas for the 2020 NFL Draft (which were to be hosted by the Las Vegas Raiders with festivities on the Las Vegas Strip), conducting the entirety of the draft remotely.[410][411] Las Vegas was re-awarded the 2022 draft.[412] The Las Vegas Raiders' inaugural season will be played behind closed doors with no spectators admitted.[413]

In late-May 2020, the Nevada Athletic Commission approved the first combat sports events to be held in Las Vegas since the beginning of the pandemic, with UFC hosting the first event—UFC on ESPN: Woodley vs. Burns—on May 30, followed by UFC 250, on a closed set at UFC's Apex studios in Las Vegas. It also approved two Top Rank-promoted boxing cards being broadcast by ESPN (beginning with Shakur Stevenson vs. Felix Caraballo on June 9), with these and future events being hosted in a closed studio in an MGM Grand conference hall, with a protected "bubble" having been constructed to secure the boxers and essential staff.[414][415][416]

In Las Vegas, NASCAR races resumed in September 2020, without live audiences.[417][418] The following month, certain youth sports were allowed to resume across the state.[419]

On March 18, 2020, Sisolak announced that he had instructed the Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation (DETR) to make it easier for people to receive unemployment benefits.[420] Early the next month, Sisolak acknowledged residents' frustration with their inability to contact DETR.[421] Thousands of unemployed people had difficulty getting in contact with the agency, due to the high number of phone calls being made to it.[422] Sisolak said, "We do not have the structure in place, I can assure you of this, to process this kind of volume. This department has never received the funding that it should have received. You could never expect a surge in claims anything like what we're dealing with right now."[179] Sisolak said a complete revamp of the state's unemployment system would not be undertaken, saying it would temporarily prevent residents from filing and would be more harmful than beneficial.[423] In mid-April 2020, DETR opened a new call center to help deal with unemployment issues. It was operated by the international company Alorica.[424] DETR's director resigned at the end of the month, and Sisolak named Heather Korbulic as a replacement.[425]

At the end of April 2020, approximately 350,000 Nevada residents had filed for unemployment benefits, setting a record that was twice as many as the number during the Great Recession.[426] Less than two weeks later, DETR reported a record-high state unemployment rate of 22 percent, up from 4 percent in February 2020.[427] Despite complaints about customer service, DETR paid unemployment claims faster than most states during the early months of the pandemic.[428]

On May 12, 2020, two Reno women filed a lawsuit against DETR, which lacked a system that would allow self-employed residents to file for unemployment benefits under the CARES Act. Nevada was the only state in the United States that did not have such a system in place, although plans were already underway to implement one.[429][430] Several days after the lawsuit filing, DETR launched a website allowing gig workers and independent contractors to apply for unemployment benefits, although people subsequently complained of error messages.[431][432] By the end of May 2020, unemployment had reached 28 percent, the worst for any state since the Bureau of Labor Statistics began tracking such data in 1976.[433]

In June 2020, a phone line went live for DETR that would allow gig workers to discuss issues in acquiring benefits. However, many people complained of busy lines and an inability to get in contact with DETR.[434] In Las Vegas, protests were held against DETR over its slow response.[435][436] DETR stated that it was working to improve its system and that, "Nearly 500,000 Nevadans have filed for unemployment insurance since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to COVID-19, DETR received about 2,000 claims per week, and we are now receiving 2,000 per day."[435] The agency stated that some unpaid claims were difficult cases to resolve due to disputes about employer separation.[436]

Later in June 2020, Korbulic announced she would leave her position after receiving threats from upset people who had yet to receive unemployment benefits.[437][438] A lawsuit was filed later that month, asking that a court order the state to pay unemployment benefits to individuals who had yet to receive them. DETR stated that such individuals were ineligible for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), part of the CARES Act, but the suit alleged that DETR was misinterpreting guidance from the United States Department of Labor regarding PUA.[439]

Sisolak named Elisa Cafferata as acting director of DETR in August 2020.[440][441] Cafferata acknowledged complaints regarding Alorica's customer service call center.[442] In September 2020, she announced that the state would terminate its contract with Alorica in 30 days, allowing DETR to directly take over call-center operations for improved service.[443]

Barbara Cegavske, the Secretary of State of Nevada, announced on March 24, 2020 that the state would seek to conduct its June primary election almost entirely through absentee voting because of concerns about the coronavirus. Absentee ballots would be mailed to all active voters, and Nevada would join a growing number of states that planned to participate largely in absentee voting during the pandemic.[444] Because of the pandemic, it was determined that each county would have only one in-person polling location.[445]

In April 2020, Democrats filed a lawsuit against Cegavske, seeking additional polling locations for the primary election, and requesting that a ban on ballot harvesting be lifted to better assist voters. The suit also requested that absentee ballots not be rejected on the basis of mismatched signatures, stating that election officials did not have the necessary training to verify signatures and that mismatched signatures would not hamper the integrity of the election.[446] True the Vote, a conservative group, filed a different lawsuit against Cegavske later that month. The group alleged that mass mail-in voting would lead to voter fraud, although proven cases of such fraud are rare.[447][448]

A judge ruled against True the Vote and declined to issue an injunction, stating that Cegavske's actions to protect voters "far outweigh any burden on Plaintiffs' right to vote, particularly when that burden is premised on a speculative claim of voter fraud". The judge also determined that Cegavske had taken adequate precautions to prevent such fraud.[449] The Democrat lawsuit was settled;[450] three polling places were set up in Clark County, and the county agreed to send mail-in ballots to all registered voters, rather than just active voters. Nevada Republicans sought records from the Clark County Commission regarding the decision, stating that a public meeting should have been held.[445] True the Vote filed a revised complaint in May 2020, saying that Clark County's voting procedures during the pandemic would give residents there an unfair advantage over those in other parts of the state.[450] The judge allowed the primary to proceed with its mail-in aspect in place.[445]

President Trump was a longtime critic of mail-in ballots, saying that they encourage voter fraud.[451] In May 2020, Trump expressed displeasure with the idea of Nevada's mail-in voting, writing on Twitter: "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." Nevada Democrats criticized Trump's comment, including Sisolak, who said, "For the President to threaten federal funding in the midst of a pandemic over a state exercising its authority to run elections in a safe and legal manner is inappropriate and outrageous."[452]

Nevada held its primary election on June 9, 2020. Despite the mail-in ballots, long lines still formed in Reno and the Las Vegas Valley, carrying over into early the next day.[453][454][455] In-person voting accounted for 1.6 percent of all the votes cast in the primary, compared with 34.2 percent in the 2018 Nevada elections.[451] The final results of the primary took 10 days to be released, due to the large number of mailed-in absentee votes.[456]

On August 3, 2020, Sisolak signed legislation to provide mail-in ballots to all of the state's active voters for the 2020 United States presidential election, becoming the eighth state to do so. The move was meant to protect residents from catching COVID-19, by minimizing the amount of in-person voting. Cegavske, the only Republican to hold state office, said she had no knowledge of the ballot bill until she saw a draft of it, a day before the Nevada Assembly voted on it. She criticized the Democrat-controlled Nevada Legislature for excluding her from discussions about the bill, and said it would cost an additional $3 million to implement it.[451]

On August 4, 2020, in response to the state's mail-in ballot plan, Trump's lawyers filed a lawsuit against Cegavske on behalf of his presidential re-election campaign and the Republican Party. Trump believed that mail-in voting could compromise the integrity of the presidential election.[457][458] Large-scale mail voting was common in other states where the mail-in system was developed over a period of years, unlike Nevada.[459] Trump claimed on Twitter, "Nevada has ZERO infrastructure for Mail-In Voting. It will be a corrupt disaster if not ended by the Courts. It will take months, or years, to figure out." However, the United States Postal Service (USPS) informed the state that there should be sufficient time for voters to cast their ballots by mail.[460] Nevada was one of four states not warned by the USPS about possible mail-in issues.[459] The state sought a dismissal of the Trump lawsuit.[461] Shortly thereafter, it was confirmed that more than 223,000 mailed primary ballots had been returned to Clark County as undeliverable, out of 1.3 million ballots. However, there were no confirmed cases of fraud in the primary.[459]

Later in August 2020, Cegavske sought an emergency regulation from Sisolak for more oversight over ballot harvesting.[462] Sisolak denied the request, calling it an attempt to use "the emergency regulation process for what appears to be political reasons."[463] Meanwhile, Clark County's registrar of voters announced plans to reduce in-person voting locations from 159 to 125. The reduction was due to difficulty recruiting workers to staff the locations. State law required that the county have at least 100 in-person locations.[464]