Weekly Newsletter

 
This week, I talked to Nevadans during a press conference about “COVID fatigue” - the latest battle for all of us in this pandemic. Nationwide, and here in Nevada, we are seeing increases in trends related to case counts, and we must not let our guards down. We all hoped COVID wouldn’t last this long. We all feel the fatigue and it results in riskier behavior and complacency.  We know the virus doesn’t get fatigued, it’s alive and well. It’s that simple. We can’t get tired when the virus isn’t tired. And if we allow the fatigue to take over, the virus will spread. Wear a face covering. Practice social distancing. Wash your hands. Get a flu shot. Get a COVID test.   
 
As I said earlier this week, we are beginning to see an alarming trend in the number of cases and hospitalizations in Nevada. But we are not helpless. We have the power to change the trajectory.  What we do as Nevadans in the coming days and weeks will determine the impact of a surge.     
 
Thank you. 

- Governor Steve Sisolak

This Week

On Saturday, I had the honor of attending a drive-thru community barbeque in North Las Vegas hosted by Assemblywoman Daniele Monroe-Moreno. Residents were able to get flu shots, enjoy free food and music - all from their cars! It was great to see people enjoying their community, while taking precautions against COVID.

Thanks for having us!

I was proud to kick off the Regional STEM Summit to speak about the importance of STEM education. From COVID to climate change, our future depends on students being prepared to solve a wide variety of challenges at work and in life. Thank you to all involved in this important work!

Learn more about the Office of Science, Innovation & Technology here: https://osit.nv.gov/

Congratulations!

As Governor of Nevada and a member of the Jobs for America's Graduates National board, I was honored to join Jobs for Nevada's Graduates and receive the 5 for 5 Performance Award, the highest honor that JAG National can bestow on a state affiliate. I am even more honored that this award comes at a time when the nation was facing uncertain times created by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

We gathered together - wearing face coverings and practicing social distancing - at Ty's Place, where the memory of Assemblyman Tyrone Thompson was alive and well. Multiple students shared their stories of how J4NG has helped them and it was a truly wonderful experience.

Learn more about the award here.  

The state has seen a tremendous response to the PETS grant program, which highlighted the need for assistance to Nevada's small businesses and non-profits. Due to the overwhelming number of applications, changes have been made to the processing of applications. 

All applications that have been started will be manually submitted by Program staff and no further action is required from applications at this time. Accordingly, the ZoomGrants application portal will be closed for all applicants going forward. Applications will be manually submitted on a rolling basis to allow the system along with program staff to catch up on the backlog of applications.

NOTE: Submission of an application does not guarantee funding, and grant awards will be determined based on prioritization and timing of the application until all funds are exhausted. 

Out of fairness for all applicants and to ensure the system is able to efficiently process those applications, please do not attempt to access ZoomGrants. Doing so will only further slow the system and process down. 

If you are unsure of whether or not you have started an application, please allow 72 hours for processing by program staff. If you have not received an email from ZoomGrants by 5 pm on Monday, October 26, please email: ask@nevadatreasurer.gov

DHHS Update

As I mentioned last week, Nevada's Department of Health and Human Services Office of Analytics released a number of enhancements to the COVID-19 dashboard. This week, State Biostatistician Kyra Morgan sat down with the Las Vegas Review-Journal to talk more about the changes.

You can read the article and view the video here.

Thursday,  Nevada Health Response, in coordination with the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services, issued guidance providing clarity and the latest information regarding visitation in hospitals and skilled nursing facilities. 

The guidance, developed in conjunction with the Nevada Hospital Association, follows best practices for helping limit the spread of COVID-19 and also abides by all the federal regulations and guidelines in accordance with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Decisions on visitors in hospitals are made by individual hospitals in compliance with federal guidance and regulation. 

More information is available below in the guidance document and in the memo provided by the Department of Health and Human Services.

Guidance on Hospital and Skilled Nursing Facility Visitation

DHHS Memo - Visitation in Skilled Nursing Facilities and Hospitals

DMV Update

REMINDER: No DMV Services Available in Reno October 26-30

The Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles plans to permanently close its office on Galletti Way on October 23. As a result, there will be no DMV services available in Reno October 26-30, as everything is moved over to its new office in south Reno. During this time, the DMV asks everyone to utilize their online services, kiosks, and AAA office locations. 

Registration renewals are available as well at dmvnv.com, along with many other services like personalized plate ordering, address changes, movement permits, driver history, and more.

To view the full press release, click here. 

Unemployment Update

Finalized data from the Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation (DETR) show initial claims for unemployment insurance (UI) totaled 8,734 for week ending October 17, down 230 claims, or 2.6%, compared to the previous week. Regular continued claims totaled 140,132 during the week ending October 17, down 17,073 claims, or 10.9%, compared to the previous week. 

The Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program, which provides up to 46 weeks of benefits for the self-employed, 1099 contract workers, and gig workers saw 12,537 initial claims filed in the week ending October 17, an increase of 4,040 claims, or 47.5%, from last week’s total of 8,497. Through the week ending October 17, 504,606 PUA initial claims have been filed.

REMINDER

Last week, DETR announced that nearly 217,500 PUA ineligibility claim determination notices will be sent in the next three weeks.

Staff have been working to verify the identity of PUA claimants. If identity cannot be validated, these cases have been determined to be ineligible for benefits. Individuals have the right to appeal this determination. 

Claimants are reminded to continue to file weekly claims for unemployment benefits while the appeal is pending in order to receive payments if the appeal is decided in their favor.  

To view the full press release, click here.

Nevada Health Link

Open enrollment begins November 1st.

For plan year 2021, there are more carriers which means more options for you! Preview plans here and see what is new. If you need insurance before open enrollment begins, you may be eligible for a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) For more information on SEP and the qualifications, click here.

Official Documents Issued by the Governor

• Lights on Afterschool Day
• Breast Cancer Awareness Month

COVID-19 Task Force Updates

The COVID-19 Mitigation and Management Task Force met on October 22, 2020. For more information on these meetings and more, please visit the links below. 

• COVID-19 Task Force Assessments 
• COVID-19 Weekly Situation Report 
• Daily COVID Press Bulletins 
  
  

Boards & Commissions

This month, I was proud to announce 50 appointments were made to State of Nevada boards, commissions, and agencies during the month of September. I have appointed hundreds of individuals since assuming office, and I encourage anyone who might be interested in serving Nevada and their community to review opportunities posted on the Governor’s WEBSITE, which is updated on an ongoing basis. 

WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS?

The Governor makes appointments to three types of boards and commissions:

• Advisory - An advisory board, commission or council serves as a formal liaison between a state agency and the public, in addition to making recommendations on how to address specific issues.
• Regulatory Board - Regulatory boards are those that oversee the licensing, handle complaints, and enforce disciplinary actions of individuals or industries that fall within the jurisdiction of the board’s authority.
• Task Force - A task force is created for the purpose of accomplishing a definite objective and goal.

If you are interested in serving, apply now! 

• Board Vacancies *Vacancies are updated once a month
• Frequently Asked Questions 
• Boards and Commissions Application 

Coming up Next Week

• Nevada Day (10/31/2020)
• Massage Therapy Awareness Week (10/25-10/31)

Stay up to date on the latest news from Governor Sisolak by following his social media accounts or by visiting his website.

Note: Please do not reply to this email. Return emails will not be monitored by our office.