Commission votes to open Lyon County effective May 1
Robert Perea, The Fernley Reporter
The Lyon County Commission on Wednesday approved a plan and submitted it to the Nevada COVID Task Force that would remove limitations to group gatherings and open businesses to 100 percent of capacity, as well as allow brothels to open, all effective May 1.
The Commission approved the plan during a special meeting Wednesday morning.
The plan removes limitations to large, indoor or outdoor gatherings, opens businesses up to 100 percent occupancy and authorizes that brothels can open May 1. The approved plan was forwarded and presented to the COVID Task Force at 10 a.m. Wednesday. The action of the County Commission clears the path for activities such as high school graduations, A Night in the Country and eliminates the need for local government approval of COVID plans for events.
Fernley City Manager Daphne Hooper said Wednesday the City Council will discuss whether to follow the county’s plan at its meeting April 21.
On Tuesday, Governor Steve Sisolak announced a goal of opening the state by June 1.
Lyon County’s plan states that Lyon County’s test positivity rate is currently below the State’s recommended rate of 8 percent. Over the next several months and following the transition to local government, the County will continue to monitor the State’s County Tracker to ensure the County stays within acceptable ranges. Testing and contact tracing efforts will continue through Lyon County Health and Human Services. In addition, the County, in coordination and cooperation with CCHHS will:
· Monitor hospital Capacity.
· Ensure that Long term facilities and group homes are performing their own testing; however, Carson City Health and Human Services (CCHHS) will continue to investigate positive cases.
· Monitor the Lyon County Jail and Western Nevada Regional Youth Center protocols will continue to assist, if needed, and will investigate positive cases
· Continue to work closely with Lyon County School District and private schools regarding positive cases and will provide assistance as needed.
The County has procured a surplus of PPE and sanitation supplies both for County Departments and local businesses. The County will coordinate with the Nevada Division of Emergency Management to obtain additional supplies from their surplus. With receipt of the new American Rescue Plan funding, the County will continue to purchase PPE and sanitation supplies for distribution, if needed.
The plan also states: “The County has prepared an occupancy and requirements matrix for industries and activities. All businesses and events will be required to follow the Governor’s directives which remain in place regarding wearing face masks. Lyon County will not limit the size of gatherings and events, as well as youth and adult recreational sports. Vaccination efforts will continue to be a community priority. As vaccine allocations increase, the County is working closely with the Quad Counties and various partners to administer to the public as quickly as possible.”
The plan can be found: https://www.lyon-county.org/DocumentCenter/View/10165/04142021-RLC1 and https://www.lyon-county.org/DocumentCenter/View/10166/04142021-RLC2