Weekly Newsletter

Nevada continues our historic COVID-19 vaccination efforts – with over 500,000 Nevadans have received their first shot or both shots!  I am proud of the State team and our local partners as they continue to collaborate closely  to keep Nevadans informed of these critical updates. 

ALERT: Some of the shipments of vaccines from the federal government were delayed in arriving to Nevada this week due to the severe weather conditions across the country.
 
Additionally, this week, I announced that starting next week, pharmacies in Nevada will begin administering vaccines to Nevadans 65 and older. Due to continued limited allocations and shipments of vaccines, the pharmacy partners enrolled in the federal pharmacy partnership program will be offering vaccines for those 65+ beginning next week, unless your county has already begun vaccinating those 65 and older in the community.  These pharmacy partners will begin to schedule these appointments next week after shipments of the COVID vaccine are received.   
  
This is great news, but I know everyone is eager to expand to 65 and older across the state at all vaccination sites. That’s why it is my hope - and it is a goal I have set for the State team - that we can work with counties who have not yet been able to offer the vaccine to this age group to ensure they can expand vaccination events STATEWIDE, for the 65-and-older population by March 1.  
  
Again, some of our small counties have already been able to offer vaccines to those 65 and older, but this effort will help some of our larger counties move into this category faster.   
 
As always, you can find the latest information for your county by visiting NVCOVIDFighter.org or by calling the State hotline at 1-800-401-0946. 
 
Finally, I also announced some great news regarding in-person instruction and the ability to resume youth sports. As you all know, getting students back into classrooms as safely as possible is one of the top priorities I laid out in my State of the State address last month.  A new emergency directive I issued will help do just that.  
 
Additionally, under this new emergency directive, full-contact sports regulated and governed by the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association (NIAA) may resume practice and competitions if social distancing and all new requirements can be met.   
 
I am grateful to our communities working together across Nevada to prioritize safety and health – and especially the social-emotional health of our students and staff – we can continue to support equitable access to high-quality learning opportunities for all students.   
 
Thank you - 
Governor Steve Sisolak 

Make a Plan: Knowing How and Where to Get Your Vaccine 

Governor Sisolak signs Directive 037, issues additional guidance 

Last week, I signed Directive 037 and announced strategic and responsible next steps as the State continues navigating this pandemic and ramping up our vaccination efforts through an efficient and equitable approach. The plans for a safe reopening are focused on how the State can continue mitigating the spread while getting Nevadans back to work, protecting and recovering our economy, and getting students back to in-person learning in the safest way possible. To view my Directive click here. To view the current mitigation measures, click here. 

GOV. SISOLAK CONGRATULATES WINNER OF TRAVEL NEVADA KIDS’ FLAG CONTEST

This Tuesday, I had the pleasure of virtually congratulating Las Vegas-area fourth-grader Elijah Rivero on winning the Discover Your Nevada Kids flag contest and talking to his classmates about our great state.  The online competition, organized by the Nevada Division of Tourism (Travel Nevada), provided an opportunity for students to express what they know about the state in a pictorial format. Elijah’s winning design included a desert bighorn sheep, the Nevada state animal, standing on red/orange landscape next to a blue panel that includes the words “Battle Born,” a reference to the fact that Nevada joined the Union in 1864, during the Civil War. To read Travel’s Nevada full press release, click here.  

Biden Administration Special Enrollment Period Feb. 15 – May 15, 2021 

In accordance with the Executive Order issued by President Biden last month, and in response to the ongoing national emergency presented by COVID-19, the Nevada Exchange will offer a forthcoming Special Enrollment Period for uninsured Nevadans.  

• The SEP began on February 15th and ends at midnight on May 15th. 
• This SEP is intended to allow consumers with no existing coverage to enroll in ACA health/dental plans. 
• Consumers with existing coverage through the Exchange will not be allowed to modify current plan selections. 
• Find more information using this direct link. 

U.S. Senator Rosen offers virtual internship opportunity 

Senator Rosen offers internships for college students, recent college graduates, and others looking to experience life on Capitol Hill. The purpose of the program is to give interns firsthand knowledge of the way in which a Senate office operates on a daily basis, to observe the legislative process at the federal level, and to develop research skills related to public policy. To visit the webpage and learn more, click here.   

DMV releases license plate for Retired Military Vehicles 

Got a half-track?  An armored personnel carrier?  Or even a camouflaged Jeep? The DMV has just released a Retired Military Vehicle license plate for vehicles that were manufactured specifically for use in military forces and later sold to civilians.  The vehicle must maintain its military appearance.  The plate allows you to drive in parades and similar special events. To see Classic Vehicle License Plates on the DMV website, click here.

Free Registration for Community Family Science Night: Geology on  February 25, 2021  

Heroes for Heroes program takes aim at reducing COVID-19 isolation  

Nevada 211 Youth app launched - Zip code-based information and resources  

The Nevada Department of Health and Human Services has announced the release of a Nevada 211 Youth resource app to complement the Nevada 211 app launched earlier this year. The app, which focuses on youth resources including counseling, education, emergency food and shelter as well as youth employment is free to download and can be searched based on zip code.  

Nevada 211, a free service that includes information about health and human service programs and resources that are available throughout the state, can also be accessed online at Nevada211.org, by dialing 2-1-1 or by texting your zip code to 898211. 

The Nevada 211 app was announced in May 2020 to help more Nevadans connect with the resources they need. Money Management International (MMI) administers the program.  

Available in the Apple App Store and Google Play, the Nevada 211 Youth app is free to download. 

COVID Trace App: Protecting your community. And your privacy.   

More than 617,942 of your neighbors have downloaded the COVID Trace App. It's a free and easy-to-use mobile phone app that gives you the information you need to fight COVID-19, without compromising your privacy. Nevadans have answered the call since Nevada day, and have doubled the number of downloads. Join your friends, family and neighbors on the app today! Together, we can help slow the spread of COVID-19 in Nevada!

Join the fight! To download the fight on your Apple device or Android, click here. 

The Governor’s Office of Economic Development Releases Annual Report

As we continue to look forward it's important not to forget how far we've come. That is why the Governor’s Office of Economic Development is pleased to share with you their Annual Report that highlights the actions taken to protect Nevada’s economy and the continued work the agency produces to ensure a bright future for all Nevadan. To view the report, click here.  

Nevada Department of Wildlife and National Park Service Team Up to Rescue Kayaker on Lake Mead

A tragedy was avoided on Lake Mead earlier this month, on Wednesday February 3, when a kayaker who had become separated from his kayak was rescued by game wardens from the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) and National Park Service (NPS) Law Enforcement Rangers after spending over an hour in the 40-degree water. The man was rescued and treated for hypothermia. Wardens say the only reason this story didn’t end tragically is because this kayaker was wearing his life jacket. To read more about the details on the rescue, click here. 

 Funding offered to enhance specialty crops in Nevada

2021 Nevada Women Veterans Virtual Conference March 3, 2021; Free Registration

(Reno, Nev.) -- In celebration of Women’s History Month, the Nevada of Department of Veterans Services (NDVS) is hosting a free Nevada Women Veterans Virtual Conference on Tues., March 3, 2021 from 9 a.m. to noon. All Veterans, active duty, Guard, Reserves, community partners, and supporters are invited to attend. The featured speaker is the first black female prisoner of war in U.S. history, Shoshana Johnson. The first 100 female veteran attendees who register from Nevada will receive a free, autographed copy of Ms. Johnson's book. To view further details and the entire press release, click here.  To register, click here.

Unemployment Update

Finalized data from the Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation (DETR) show initial claims for unemployment insurance (UI) totaled 7,378, down 2,575 claims, or 25.9%, compared to the previous week’s total of 9,953 claims. Regular continued claims totaled 77,310 claims, a decrease of 2,448 claims, or 3.1% from the previous week’s total of 79,798.

The Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program, which provides benefits for self-employed, 1099 contract workers, and gig workers saw 12,432 initial claims filed in the week ending February 13, a decline of 23,028 claims, or 64.9%, from last week’s total of 35,460. Initial applications for the PUA program continue to be highly variable due to ongoing high levels of fraudulent applications. Through the week ending February 13, there have been a total of 1,080,544 PUA initial claims filed. 

COVID-19 Task Force Updates

The COVID-19 Mitigation and Management Task Force met on January 28, 2021. 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

In December, I was proud to announce 52 appointments were made to State of Nevada boards, commissions, and agencies during the month of December. 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 

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

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