January 29, 2021
Carson City, NV – Today, Governor Steve Sisolak and Attorney General Aaron D. Ford issued the
following joint statement after several rural counties passed resolutions challenging the
governor’s COVID-19 directives. Lyon, White Pine, Eureka and Elko Counties have all passed
resolutions challenging the current restrictions in place:
“We recognize the tolls this pandemic is taking on all Nevadans,” said Governor Sisolak and
Attorney General Ford. “And we are determined to continue working with our local elected officials
to protect our residents and support our economy. That said, we believe resolutions like those
passed in some of the rural counties are counterproductive and confusing to Nevadans.
Resolutions like this are mere statements and nothing more. They have no force of law and cannot
override the Governor's Emergency Directives, which have been issued under state law and upheld in
courts several times. The Attorney General has spoken with counsel of various municipalities
regarding actions such as these, and each counsel has acknowledged that these resolutions have no
legal effect.
Far from helping, resolutions like this send mixed messages to their residents and businesses --
implying that they need not comply with Emergency Directives when, in fact, they must. Most
importantly, these elected leaders are not protecting the health and safety of their constituents
by encouraging them to ignore Directives that have issued upon the advice of medical professionals
to keep people safe.
We are all tired of this virus. But every day, and in rural counties, Nevadans die due to COVID-19.
We look forward to continuing our efforts to work with our local elected officials as we seek to
protect all Nevadans and end this pandemic.”
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