Governor Keeps Dine-In Restaurants Closed Through April 30 With New Stay-at-Home Directive

On Wednesday, Gov. Steve Sisolak issued a stay-at-home directive and extended his mandate to close all nonessential businesses — including casinos, resorts, dine-in restaurants, and bars — until May 1 in an effort to impede the spread of novel coronavirus in the state.

The stay-at-home guidance is not mandatory, but Gov. Sisolak describes the directive as urgent. “Today’s ‘Stay at Home’ directive strengthens the imperative that Nevadans must not leave their homes for nonessential activities in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19,” Gov. Sisolak said in a statement. “This directive builds on previous directives around school closures, social distancing, closure of nonessential businesses, and bans on public gatherings of 10 or more people by requiring you stay at home unless leaving is absolutely necessary.”

On March 12, Sisolak declared a state of emergency. Five days later, he mandated that all nonessential businesses close for 30 days. (Like grocery stores, restaurants are considered an essential business, though they can only offer drive-thru, takeout or delivery.) On April 1, the stay-at-home directive went into effect.

Under the directive, people can still participate in essential trips, such as buying groceries, visiting a doctor, picking up curbside orders at restaurants, or going on a walk, provided that social distancing guidelines are maintained.

On Tuesday, Sisolak issued a request that travelers to Nevada quarantine themselves for up to 14 days. At least 33 states and the District of Columbia now have stay-at-home orders, keeping more than 225 million people, more than two-thirds of the country’s population, home, according to CNN.

In Clark County, the latest numbers show 869 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 23 deaths, while statewide, the number of presumptive positive cases nears 1,300 with 26 deaths.

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