Gov. Steve Sisolak has ordered temporary closures for schools across the state, the most drastic step yet taken by Nevada authorities to limit spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
Sisolak made the announcement alongside Clark County School District Superintendent Jesus Jara on Sunday afternoon, the most serious and wide-ranging step yet taken by the state to reduce the threat of the virus.
Sisolak said the closure will be in effect until at least April 6.
“I realize this will cause hardships for our families, our students, and our school staff,” he said. “I assure you we have not reached this decision lightly.”
The move comes amid a growing chorus of teacher unions and public health officials to temporarily close schools to limit spread of the virus, but is likely to have a major impact on the 500,000 students statewide enrolled in public and charter schools. The closure will also be acutely felt in the Clark County School District, the nation’s fifth largest school district, where roughly 70 percent of the estimated student body population of 332,000 qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch.
Washoe County schools went on a scheduled two-week spring break on Friday
As of Sunday afternoon,
21 people in the state have tested presumptive positive for COVID-19, though actual numbers are likely much higher due to limits on who can be tested. Nationwide,
more than 2,900 people in 49 states have tested positive for the virus, which medical experts believe has
a higher mortality rate than most strains of the flu.
State law grants the governor additional special powers after calling a “state of emergency,” including the abilities to assume direct operational control of any and all emergency management forces, to temporarily seize property as needed for emergency response, allow non-state-licensed medical professionals to operate in the state and to “compel the evacuation of all or part of the population from any stricken or threatened area or areas within the State and to take such steps as are necessary for the receipt and care of those persons.”
The governor is also given broad authority in law to exercise as necessary any “functions, powers and duties as are necessary to promote and secure the safety and protection of the civilian population.”
The announcement comes after Sisolak officially
declared a state of emergency over the coronavirus outbreak on Thursday, which took steps to centralize and coordinate the state’s response to the virus.
Clark County School District officials
said last week that in the event of a closure, 14 sites throughout the region have been identified where families qualified for free or reduced-price lunch can pick up food.
It also comes after the Clark County Education Association and the National Education Association of Southern Nevada called on Jara to suspend school operations as soon as possible to limit spread of the virus. Jara previously announced on Saturday that schools would open as normal on Monday but that he had not ruled out a “short-term closure.”
Already, higher education institutions in the state including the University of Nevada, Reno, UNLV and Nevada State College have announced plans to transition to remote, online courses to avoid further spread of the virus.
Nationwide, governors in
Ohio,
Illinois and
California announced imminent required closures of all bars and dine-in restaurants in their respective states to help prevent further spread of the virus.
