UPDATE: The City of Reno has made some clarifications to the temporary mandatory closures order announced on Monday.

Officials said bars, nightclubs, gyms and restaurants, except takeout/delivery/drive-through and pickup services will close until April 5 unless extended.

They said businesses should begin the process of winding down operations starting Tuesday, with the goal of closing by Friday, March 20 at 5 p.m.

Casino gaming is still allowed to operate following the directions of the Nevada Gaming Control Board, but casino dining areas in restaurants and bars should be closed. Room service is allowed for guests within properties.

“I know there was some confusion around the announcement, so I just want to clarify that these are businesses where groups of people tend to congregate,” Schieve said. “Let me also clarify that all businesses are essential. I am simply trying to limit areas of high-exposure risk.”

The City of Reno says there will be some additional services affected:

  • All Reno City Hall floors above 2, with the exception of privately leased space on 10 and 14, are closed to the public.
  • The City Clerk and Community Development desks are closed; drop-offs are being provided for people who need to leave things behind.
  • While the public may no longer file a report in person at RPD headquarters, they are encouraged to visit renopd.com or call 775-334-2175 to file non-emergency reports. Outward-facing public safety functions and related services such as police patrols and fire stations are otherwise unaffected.
  • Sewer operations, traffic engineering, road/street repairs and closures conducted by Public Works will continue as usual.
  • All City of Reno employees who are able to work from home or remotely have been instructed to do so.

Washoe County officials released a new statement on Tuesday morning in response to Mayor Schieve's address. These are the new guidelines: 

For more information on Washoe County's new guidelines, visit: https://www.washoecounty.us/outreach/2020/03/2020-03-16-joint-statement.php

As for the City of Sparks, Mayor Ron Smith released this statement: 

At this time, we have not decided to require any businesses to close in the City of Sparks. We are continuing to follow all recommendations set forth by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Washoe County Health District. This is a fluid situation that could change, but for now, we are not asking businesses to close. We are continually updating our website with COVID-19 related information and ask that the community continue to practice social distancing, coughing and sneezing etiquette, stay home when they are sick, and to be kind and take care of one another.

The City has suspended all in-person services through at least April 30.

  • Sewer payments can be completed by mail, by phone or online at www.cityofsparks.us/customer-service
  • Business license applications and renewals can be completed by mail or online – www.onenv.us
  • Passport Services can be obtained at the US Postal Service – 750 4th Street, Sparks.
  • Building Permits and Development Applications are being processed by appointment only.
  • All planning and development related meetings should be coordinated through the planner assigned to your case. Please call 775-353-2300 or email permitdesk@cityofsparks.us
  • Public Records requests can be made online at www.cityofsparks.us/records-request. Please call the CityClerks office at 775-353-2350 or email cityclerk@cityofsparks.us with any questions.
  • For all other inquires, contact customer service at 775-353-5555 or customerservice@cityofsparks.us

To facilitate community-wide restocking and delivery of goods and supplies in the Truckee Meadows in response to a recent spike in consumer demand driven by the COVID-19 pandemic event, the City of Sparks is temporarily suspending restrictions on delivery hours to local businesses.

Through at least April 30, 2020, the City is encouraging local retailers, suppliers, vendors and logistics companies to use this operational flexibility to replenish their respective inventories as best they can.

“Our goal is to help businesses in Sparks receive deliveries as quickly and efficiently as they can, reduce detention time for shipping companies so that they can get on to their next stop, and get shelves in Sparks filled with the products on which our citizens rely,” said Mayor Ron Smith. “Combatting COVID-19 is a community-wide effort; making proactive temporary adjustments to the way we do business to better facilitate the well-being of individuals and businesses makes sense.”

Original Story: At a press conference on Monday, Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve ordered all non-essential businesses to shut down amid the ongoing worldwide coronavirus outbreak, until further notice. 

She referenced what other cities are going through for making the "tough" decision. "I can't tell you how hard it is to make these decisions."

She added, "Lives are at stake."

Grocery stores and gas stations will remain open, but non-essential businesses like gyms and restaurants will shut down, except for delivery or pick-up. The closures also extend to casinos/resorts and college campuses. 

Closures will start at 10 a.m. on Tuesday.

"We're doing this to save lives."

As for the affected workers who may be out of work for an unknown amount of time, Schieve asked that those employees file for unemployment. 

"We really want people to stay home....to avoid human contact."

Police Chief Jason Soto said that they are contacting all the affected businesses. "We're really taking this on a day-to-say basis."

Since her Friday press conference, five additional cases of coronavirus were confirmed in Washoe County, totaling now nine. 

Meanwhile, the City of Sparks has declared a State of Emergency in response to the COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus).

The declaration will be submitted to the State of Nevada and will allow the City of Sparks to speed up the delivery of resources required to effectively respond to the COVID-19 emergency.

“Declaring a State of Emergency is a tool to help us provide for our community during a time of crisis,” said Mayor Ron Smith. “This makes it easier to respond financially by accessing resources that wouldn’t otherwise be available.”

In conjunction with the state’s decision to close all Nevada K-12 schools until at least April 6, the City will be closing spring break and before and after school programming scheduled through City of Sparks Parks and Recreation

 

 

 

User: KTVN Channel 2 News To: link