Washoe County has been transparent through this entire process. Within the last two weeks, we have dedicated staff, resources, and an opportunity in public meetings for the public to voice their concerns with the plan. Our regional partners, stakeholders and residents alike have had an opportunity to participate. Through that process, a plan was developed that mandated social distancing through the month of May. This plan received the required endorsements from the City of Reno, City of Sparks, Washoe County Health District, Washoe County School District and the Nevada Hospital Association to ensure approval from the State COVID Task Force.
Upon receipt of the governor’s latest directive, Directive 44, which arrived the morning that the County Commission had to vote on the plan, the County Commission acted quickly and in good faith, for a second time, to adopt the endorsed plan and absorb the guidance in the newly received directive. The result was a plan that recommended social distancing per the CDC guidelines, understanding that the governor would remove social distancing guidance statewide on May 1. The county proceeded with the belief that this satisfied all parties. Indeed, the plan retained its endorsement from the City of Sparks and the Nevada Hospital Association.
We stand behind the plan because we know there is COVID fatigue in our community. People are going to return to life and the things they’ve missed in the last year whether we dictate mandates or not.
The County Commission has worked to balance the demands of parents, educators, and business owners to return to some semblance of normalcy with the imperative to protect the community from increasing rates of COVID-19 infections. We have advocated for the personal rights of citizens to act as they feel best for their families during this pandemic. The community has the opportunity to become vaccinated and tested if they choose. The community also has a choice on when and where they do their business.
