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Is DETR prepared after Gov. Sisolak announces new restrictions?

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LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — The governor’s new restrictions are raising questions about whether some businesses can stay open and keep their employees from having to rely on a strained unemployment system. It’s a system that has brought frustration to many Nevadans.

Diners are still coming in at Café Lola in Summerlin. The owners are doing what they can, but they understand the new 25% occupancy cap will make turning a profit more difficult.

“We’re doing our best to keep our staff employed. To keep our restaurants open and keep our vendors moving,” Michael Santos, a partner at Café Lola, said.

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They say their employees are their priority. Their goal is to keep them working so they don’t have to navigate the unemployment system.

“That’s truly what it's about, it's keeping them engaged and keeping them coming in with a smile on their face and not worrying or have concerns of a pause or a shut down again,” Santos said.

Gov. Steve Sisolak is hoping the 25% cap keeps restaurants open. He says it will mean less of a strain on DETR and that it’ll be prepared.

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“DETR is aware of what restrictions are in place and will handle anything that comes forward to the best of their ability,” he said in an address Sunday.

DETR says it receives anywhere from hundreds to thousands of new applications for unemployment benefits every day. In a statement it said:

“Our systems track number of issues to resolve and not individual claimants. We are focused on resolving cases and are not able to provide case numbers at the moment.”

It also says claims have been dropping over the last few months saying:

“Because the governor's order allows businesses to continue operations, we are not expecting a surge. And as the governor's actions flatten the curve of new COVID cases, we would expect to see business picking up and more people able to return to work.”

The owners at Café Lola says they’re preparing as well and hope to weather this latest pivot in the pandemic.

“We’re just going to always do our best and we hope that it’s good enough,” Lin Jerome, co-owner of Café Lola, said.

The new restrictions go into place at 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday.