LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — City and state leaders in Nevada continue to be divided on when to reopen the state, while nearby states prepare to loosen stay-at-home orders soon.
Las Vegas Mayor Pro Term Michele Fiore spoke in support of Mayor Carolyn Goodman’s plea to reopen the city during a council meeting Wednesday.
“If you are staying home for Nevada without underlying conditions, you are in fear, and you are being controlled,” Fiore said. “Why would we ever shut down our state without a plan to reopen it before we shut it down.”
The state of Nevada remains under a stay-at-home order until May 15.
RELATED: Gov. Sisolak extends stay-at-home order to May 15, eases some restrictions
“All I have is my voice, and that’s all I can use,” Goodman said.
Fiore also said people need to get back to work, and that the current stress is hurting people.
“Suicides are up, and drug overdoses are up, depression is rampant,” she said.
RELATED: Mayor Goodman tweets two-page statement calling for Nevada to reopen
Other states across the country have started their reopening processes, including California.
“We are announcing our efforts to update our stay-at-home guidelines and begin the process of moving into phase two,” Calif. Gov. Gavin Newsom said.
That phase will allow places like clothing stores, sporting goods stores, and florists to get back to business.
RELATED: States and malls reopen despite pressure to increase testing
Last week, Gov. Sisolak announced that Nevada joined four other states in the Western States Pact, including California, with a shared goal of modifying stay-at-home orders.
When it comes to whether states should reopen sooner than later, medical professionals are in a tough spot answering that.
“What we need to navigate is how to decrease the fear that a lot of patients have,” said Dr. Daliah Wachs. “What we were hoping would happen is primary care offices would stay open, and a lot closed because they didn’t have enough personal protective equipment.”
