Mesquite Community Peer Support Group

March 25, 2020: The City of Mesquite announced the first confirmed positive Covid-19 test for a Mesquite resident. This information is provided to us by the Southern Nevada Health District. We do know this person is isolated, and anyone that had contact with this person has been notified. The Southern Nevada Health District will not provide any further information about this resident.

While this certainly brings this pandemic close to home, our direction to you does not change. Wash your hands often, for at least 20 seconds. Use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol in between handwashing. If you are at the store, at the park, in your neighborhood, maintain social distancing of at least 6 feet from others. If you have to sneeze or cough, make sure to use a tissue or the inside of your elbow. Immediately throw the tissue away and wash your hands.

City Facilities and Operations

Open City Facilities

The City has increased the cleaning of all surfaces, as a proactive approach to preventing the possible spread of COVID-19

• City Hall is open on a limited basis. Our doors are open from 8 AM - 5 PM, Monday through Thursday and 8 AM - 3:30 PM on Fridays, however our information desk in the middle pod is closed at 4 PM, Monday through Thursday and 3:30 on Friday. We ask that you conduct all business by phone, email, or online when you can. If you need to see someone in person in either Building, Planning, or Business Licensing, please call (702) 346-2835 and make an appointment.

  • Development Services is open for the public to handle business., 8 AM - 5 PM. Contractors are encouraged to use the contractor portal. The majority of supporting documents can be submitted through the portal or vial email.

• Parks

  • Parks are open.

    • Surfaces such as tables, playground equipment, and railings are being disinfected daily, often twice daily.

    • The City of Mesquite has posted signs at the tennis/pickleball courts asking that you and others follow all rules and guidelines that have been set and that we practice social distancing at the parks, courts, playgrounds and other outdoor facilities. For further information you can call Parks and Recreation @ 702-346-8732

  • Reliance Connects has put in WiFi hot spots at at many locations all over town. A map with the locations can be found here. Signs with instructions will be posted for the next 60 days at those locations. They are also opening up connection at all of their carrier sites around town to help with access and assist people staying connected for updated information.

• Sports fields

• Mesquite Recreation Center is now open, Monday through Friday, 6 AM - 7 PM. July 1 will open Saturdays 8 AM - 7 PM

• Sunshine Academy (Pre-School Program) is open for summer school

• Some sports leagues, programs and tournaments have returned

Joint Statement on Using Parks and Open Space While Maintaining Social Distancing from the National Recreation and Park Association

Closed City Facilities and Programs

• Safekey After School Program may resume in fall

• Virgin Valley Heritage Museum until further notice

• Mesquite Senior Center until further notice. Homebound meal delivery will continue with no anticipated changes. For those who usually go to the Senior Center to eat, meals will be available for pick-up at the Senior Center Monday through Friday 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Individuals can also sign up for home delivery if they qualify. Please contact the Senior Center with questions (702) 346-5290.

City Public Meetings

The May 5, 2020 Tech Review Meeting was held virtually allowing public comment to be done online. The May 12, 2020 City Council meeting was held in person and virtually. Technical Review Meetings and City Council Meetings are open again for the public to come and observe with strict social distancing guidelines in place. E-comments may also be made through the website while streaming the meeting.

Mesquite Municipal Court

The Mesquite Municipal Court has issued several administrative orders outlining changes to court operations due to the coronavirus (COVID-19). Please visit the Mesquite Municipal Court Website for more information: https://www.mesquitenv.gov/departments/municipal-court

Clark County, Cities Issue Declarations of Emergency to Better Manage COVID-19 Situation

Clark County and the Cities of Las Vegas, Henderson, North Las Vegas, Mesquite and Boulder City have declared emergencies in their jurisdictions today to better manage the COVID-19 situation and its associated impacts to hospital emergency rooms, local government agencies, local businesses, residents and visitors.

The declarations assist Southern Nevada local governments as they seek to stabilize and more efficiently respond to emerging conditions related to COVID-19 and manage response and recovery efforts.

The current situation involving the coronavirus requires some administrative leniency in the enforcement of ordinances, rules, regulations, purchasing and other government functions, officials said.

They added that they may need flexibility in staffing levels and assignments normally addressed in collective bargaining agreements and merit personnel systems.

Link to Mesquite's Declaration of Emergency

Due to the Declaration, the City of Mesquite activated its Emergency Operations Center on Sunday, March 15 and is staffing it in order to monitor the situation and help with disseminating information.

Census

Even during these times, the U.S. Census is still happening and is very important to the City of Mesquite. Please use this link to get more information and complete your Census. Mesquite is at 42%! Keep sending them in!

En español

Previous versions of Mayor Litman's daily message can be found here.

Vetted to ensure accurate, most up to date information on 4/15/2020

Southern Nevada Health District

There are 34,209 confirmed cases of COVID-19, 580 persons have died of their illness. There have been 2,548 hospitalizations.**

Confirmed cases in Clark County by Municipality.

The SNHD has activated its information line to assist the public in getting their questions answered about COVID-19. Currently, the line is staffed everyday from 7 a.m. - 7 p.m.

The public can call (702) 759-INFO (4636) for more information Monday through Friday 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Additional information and updates are available on the Health District website at www.southernnevadahealthdistrict.org/coronavirus.

For the latest information from SNHD check their Twitter account: https://twitter.com/snhdinfo

The Food Handler Safety Training Card (Health Card) program is suspended until May 1, 2020. Food Handlers will not be required to have their cards with them and new employees or those that need to renew their cards will be able to temporarily work without cards. Food Establishments will not be assigned demerits for food handlers without cards during this period. Check here for the latest information.

Birth and Death records are currently available online only here.

Center for Disease Control

Federal Government Website for COVID-19

Current guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is available on its website:www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html

White house Guidance: https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/03.16.20_coronavirus-guidance_8.5x11_315PM.pdf

Coronavirus FAQ: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/faq.html

Apple, in conjunction with the Whitehouse Coronavirus Task Force, U.S. Health and Human Services, and the CDC, has developed an app and website to use as a self check and guide for when to seek further care if you may be ill. It can be downloaded from the Apple App Store or Google Play store. The website is also available as a website here.

State of Nevada

State of Nevada Covid-19 website with Governor Sisolak's Emergency Directives and Declarations and other state information can be found here.

DIRECTIVE 018

Governor Sisolak recently signed Emergency Directive 018, which allowed Nevada to enter into Phase One of the Reopening Plan. Links to flyers with more information about this can be found here and here.

Governor Sisolak's "Nevada United Roadmap to Recovery" can be found here.

LANDLORD/TENANT CONCERNS

Please find the attached flyers here in English and Spanish that serve as additional resources to Nevada landlords looking for guidance on the Governor's Eviction Moratorium Directive issued on March 29th. Landlords or tenants experiencing any difficulty with the Governor's Directive are encouraged to file a complaint with the Nevada Attorney General's office through their website ag.nv.gov. Filing an official complaint helps ensure their office is able to best assist Nevadans in need. Landlords in need of legal advice should contact their private attorneys.

ACCESS NEVADA

Access Nevada is a state website set up to be a one stop portal for various state assistance including SNAP, Cash, Medical, Child Care, and WIC, as well as reporting changes in household circumstances. The website can be found here.

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

UNEMPLOYMENT

For updates on unemployment benefits and how to apply. Unemployment Insurance call centers are operating with extended hours of 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. Monday through Friday for those that are unable to file online. You can call (888) 890-8211.

• Information form in English and Spanish can be found here.

• Other information can be found here. En espanol.

• Other resources for Covid-19.

• As you may be aware, the ESD is currently experiencing an unprecedented number of claims and it may take them longer than normal to respond. On behalf of Senator Hardy and all Nevada legislators, the CSU is working closely with personnel at ESD in an effort to find resolutions for folks who cannot get through to a live person after a prolonged period. Please refer the constituents directly to us at the following email address, [email protected]. We are constantly monitoring that email account and will respond to the constituents, normally within one business day.

PRICE GOUGING CONCERNS

If you feel you have witnessed or are the victim of price gouging, you can report it by calling the Attorney General's office at (702) 383-0335 or on their online form. Updated information available here.

Department of Business and Industry Covid-19 assistance information.

Department of Motor Vehicles including information on 90 day extension on Drivers License Renewal and Vehicle Registration (DMV)

Nevada Medicaid Information

Nevada 2-1-1 can help connect residents with needed resources.

2020 Nevada Primary to occur by mail.

Vetted to ensure accurate, most up to date information on 4/9/2020

IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM MESA VIEW HOSPITAL:

We have been directed to refer all further questions about results and testing in the community to our regional Public Health Agency – the Southern Nevada Health District (SNHD), which is completely appropriate when you think about it.

Patients who live in the hospital’s service area could be tested at other facilities in Nevada or in other states and Mesa View Regional Hospital would not receive that information.

All test results for people residing in our area are collected and reported by the SNHD

Mesa View Hospital is open and operating with the below restrictions visitor restrictions and is equipped to obtain specimen samples to be sent for testing if ordered by a physician.

Mesa View Medical Group is operating per their normal operating hours.

Important Information Regarding The Quick Care Walk-In Clinic in Mesquite:

To centralize patient care during this unprecedented time, ALL Quick Care walk-in patients are being directed to

Mesa View Medical Group’s main clinic, located at 1301 Bertha Howe Avenue Suite #1, adjacent to the hospital in Mesquite.

Walk-in visits are available Monday – Friday, 8:00am to 6:00pm all day long & open during lunch.

No Appointments Necessary! Questions? 702-346-0800

At this point, testing is only being done on patients who are experiencing symptoms and meet certain criteria such as fever in conjunction with cough and respiratory illness. If you feel you are experiencing significant symptoms, please go to the Emergency Room so you can be evaluated for the need to be tested. It is requested that you call ahead if possible, so that appropriate precautions can be taken for your arrival.

We will have daily updates on testing in Mesquite and surrounding areas. Decisions to test are made by the health care provider bases on patient symptoms and guidance from the CDC and Southern Nevada Health District.

Question: Other than older age, what conditions put people at higher risk for severe illness?

COVID-19 is a new disease and there is limited information regarding risk factors for severe disease. Based on currently available information and clinical expertise, older adults and people of any age who have serious underlying medical conditions might be at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19. These include:

• People 65 years and older

• People who live in a nursing home or long-term care facility

• People of all ages with underlying medical conditions, particularly if not well controlled, including:

• People with chronic lung disease or moderate to severe asthma

• People who have serious heart conditions

• People who are immunocompromised

  • Many conditions can cause a person to be immunocompromised, including cancer treatment, smoking, bone marrow or organ transplantation, immune deficiencies, poorly controlled HIV or AIDS, and prolonged use of corticosteroids and other immune weakening medications

• People with severe obesity (body mass index [BMI] of 40 or higher)

• People with diabetes

• People with chronic kidney disease undergoing dialysis

• People with liver disease

Question: Should Children Wear Masks? (Source: CDC)

• CDC recommends that everyone 2 years and older wear a cloth face covering that covers their nose and mouth when they are out in the community. Cloth face coverings should NOT be put on babies or children younger than 2 because of the danger of suffocation. Children younger than 2 years of age are listed as an exception as well as anyone who has trouble breathing or is unconscious, incapacitated, or otherwise unable to remove the face covering without assistance.

• Wearing cloth face coverings is a public health measure people should take to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in addition to (not instead of) social distancing, frequent hand cleaning ,and other everyday preventive actions. A cloth face covering is not intended to protect the wearer but may prevent the spread of virus from the wearer to others. This would be especially important if someone is infected but does not have symptoms. Medical face masks and N95 respirators are still reserved for healthcare personnel and other first responders, as recommended by current CDC guidance.

Tip of The Day: Correctly Wearing a Cloth Face Covering – As elementary as this seems, a significant number of people who mean well in their efforts, are not properly utilizing face coverings. The following is our public health agency guidance on wearing a face covering:

Cloth face coverings should—

• fit snugly but comfortably against the side of the face

• be secured with ties or ear loops

• include multiple layers of fabric

• allow for breathing without restriction

• be able to be laundered and machine dried without damage or change to shape

Note: Be careful not to touch eyes, nose and mouth when removing face coverings and wash hands immediately after removing.

Tip of The Day: Disinfect Your Electronics – Often during these times we tend to neglect some very critical surfaces such as electronics. This includes: cell phones, keyboards, tablets, touch screens and remotes!

Consider putting a cleanable cover on electronics that can be sanitized after each use. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for cleaning and disinfecting. If there is no guidance or you simply can’t find it, use alcohol-based wipes or sprays containing at least 70% alcohol and dry surface thoroughly. (Source: CDC.gov/coronavirus)

Q: Is the Quick Care in Mesquite shut down?

No – not at all! Temporarily we are centralizing all clinic and walk-in patients to the medical group office that is adjacent to the hospital in Mesquite. Mesa View Medical Group is open 8:00am to 6: pm Monday through Friday and walk-ins are welcome! They are not open on weekends.

Q: Are gloves a good protection from getting and spreading the virus?

NO – and can do more harm than good. Gloves give people a false sense of security.They can be worn, but are by no means a replacement for hand washing. Unless you have a specific medical care purpose, the best thing is to wash your hands and don’t wear gloves. The virus does not penetrate your skin.

Q: What more can we all do to help stop the spread of COVID-19?

If people want to actively do more to stop the spread of the virus, CDC suggests that people cover their mouth and nose with a cloth or face cover when around others. The following guidance from CDC (www.CDC.gov):

• You could spread COVID-19 to others even if you do not feel sick.

• Everyone should wear a cloth face cover when they have to go out in public, for example to the grocery store or to pick up other necessities.

• Cloth face coverings should not be placed on young children under age 2, anyone who has trouble breathing, or is unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance.

• The cloth face cover is meant to protect other people in case you are infected.

• Do NOT use a facemask meant for a healthcare worker.

• Continue to keep about 6 feet between yourself and others. The cloth face cover is not a substitute for social distancing.

Q: What are the emergency symptoms of the COVID-19 virus?

If you develop emergency warning signs for COVID-19 get medical attention immediately!

Emergency warning signs include:

• - Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath

• - Persistent pain or pressure in the chest

• - New onset of confusion or inability to arouse

• - Bluish lips or face

This list is not all inclusive. Please consult your medical provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning.

Q: How is the hospital protecting its patients, employees and visitors?

The hospital’s daily routine all the time is designed for protection against communicable diseases. In an abundance of caution, the hospital has temporarily implemented the following precautions:

1. Entry into the hospital is currently limited to the main Emergency Department door in the front of the hospital.

2. Every person who enters the facility is screened for fever and respiratory symptoms.

3. Visitors are limited to one designated visitor for each patient.

4. Visiting hours are temporarily set for 9:00am to 7:00pm.

5. The cafeteria is closed to the public until further notice.

Q: How is Mesa View Regional Hospital set for supplies?

• To date, the hospital has capacity, supplies and equipment ready to treat our patient load and any COVID-19 patients should there be an influx. Currently there are no COVID-19 patients being treated in our hospital. We’ve received a lot of offers for donations from individuals – like hand-sewn masks, shoe covers and more. We appreciate these offers greatly and if things change and we need these items we will let the community know through our website or Facebook page! We have a wonderful community and an equally amazing group of people who work at the hospital in a variety of capacities.

Q: What protocols does the hospital have in place to protect patients, health care workers and the community from the spread of communicable diseases?

• Food and Nutrition Services under COVID-19: While all areas of the hospital facility are important, we make sure that we give additional attention to the areas of; the Kitchen, Patient Meal Order process and Tray Delivery & Pick-up, to help provide the safest possible environment for our guests and staff.

Q: How does the hospital take care of someone with a Virus like COVID-19 ?

• Hospitals routinely care for patients with serious communicable diseases which are usually categorized by the method in which they are transmitted to others. COVID-19 and similar viruses are spread by ‘droplet contact’ (not airborne). Here are some of the standard care precautions that hospital staff utilize in caring for a patient with this class of virus: The patient is placed in a room for isolation; Only essential personnel and special visitors are allowed in the room; All people must clean their hands when entering and leaving the room; All people entering the room must wear eye protection with a face mask, gown and gloves prior to entering the room; Certain procedures require fit tested N95 mask with eye protection; Door is to be kept closed.

Q: What can “At-Risk” older adults do to protect themselves from this and other communicable Viruses?

Older adults are at a higher risk of getting sick — especially if they have a long-term illness. If that’s the case, it’s important to keep your distance and follow these actions:

• If you have to go out, observe the 6-feet rule.

• Avoid crowds.

• Get only the supplies you need, or ask a family member or friend to go shopping for you.

• Wash your hands with soap and water. The recommended amount of time is at least 20 seconds of thorough hand-washing.

• If you suspect there is an outbreak in your neighborhood, stay indoors.

Q: What else can we do to protect ourselves and our families?

• Don’t Touch Your Face or Surfaces Whenever Possible. Notice how often you touch your face. It’s not unusual; we all do it. To minimize the curve and decrease the spread, keep your hands away from your face. If you touch a contaminated surface and bring your hands into contact with your mouth or nose, infection may occur.

• Infected droplets can live on surfaces. If you touch them and then touch your face, you can transfer those droplets into your mouth and nose. While the CDC believes it’s possible to transmit the virus this way, it’s not the main way — the main way the virus spreads is by person-to-person contact. We will continue to share information on prevention and safeguards as we move forward.

Q: Is regular use of hand sanitizer the best way to prevent contamination from surfaces?

No. While using hand sanitizer is good, the best way is to combine methods for more comprehensive protection. Here are some suggestions:

• Clean your hands often: Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds is the best option. This is very important after blowing your nose, coughing, sneezing or using the restroom. Washing is especially critical before eating or preparing food.

• Hand Sanitizer: If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol based sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub them together until they feel dry.

• Avoid touching: Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with ‘unwashed’ hands.

Updated with information from daily information email for MVRH on 4/17/2020

Governor Sisolak announced that all schools have been closed through the remainder of the 2020 school year.

Clark County School District announced that all CCSD schools are closed for the rest of this school year, but are still conducting distance learning. Please click here for FAQ's on CCSD's Phase 1 re-opening plan, and future activities like extended school year and summer school 2020.

For the latest information from the school district, please visit their website.

Please visit this page for learning extension opportunities provided by the school district.

Updates specific to Covid-19.

*The Clark County School District will continue providing breakfast and lunch to students during the closure. The Clark County School District (CCSD) will continue providing breakfast and lunch to students during the closure of our schools. Student food distribution pods will be set up at 28 school locations throughout the district from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Monday through Friday. Food Service will continue over Spring Break!

The NIAA has suspended all interscholastic sports activities until further notice.

Educational Resources no affiliated with the Clark County School District can be found through Learn Everywhere here.

Educational Resources no affiliated with the Clark County School District can be found through Scholastic here.

Vetted to ensure accurate, most up to date information on 4/9/2020

Food Banks

Virgin Valley Food Bank, 115 S 1st St (Registration required but can sign up while in line)

Each Monday: 1500-1700

3rd Thursday: 0800-1100

Last Wed of the Month 0900-1200

Salvation Army, 742 Pioneer Blvd suite D

Individual drop in: M-T 0800-1530, Fri 0800-1200

2nd Thursday Senior Pantry: 0900-1200 (Seniors above age 60) Pre-registration required.

Clark County Commission Chairwoman Marilyn Kirkpatrick has launched a webpage with Resources and links. It can be found here.

Information Emergency Food Distribution can be found at three square and their website here.

Information on whether or not local restaurants are open is maintained by the Mesquite Chamber of Commerce and can be found here.

The City of Mesquite has cancelled all Mesquite Days 2020 events. Press release from Nicholas Montoya can be found here.

Virgin Valley Little League has cancelled the 2020 season. Letter from Dan Wright can be found here.

The Mudd Volleyball event scheduled for May 30, 2020 has been postponed. The Rotary Club will provide an update if it is rescheduled.

The Run For Fund$ has been cancelled.

Spring 2020 events that are apart of the Mesquite Senior Games have been cancelled. Please visit their site for more information.

Updated 4/9/2020

Mesquite Community Peer Support Group

• Please see the above link to explore the page. If you need help, or just want someone to talk with, please consider speaking with the volunteers in our peer support group (you can send an email and request a specific peer based on profiles within the website). This is a joint effort between the City Attorney's Victim Advocacy Program, Mesquite Fire and Rescue, and the Mesquite Police Department. If you would like to volunteer to be a peer support member, or have any other questions, please call Lara McOmie or Michelle Reber at 702-346-0909

National Suicide Prevention Hotline is 800-273-8255

Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health Community Resource Guide is available here.

Nevada 211 to help Nevadans connect with the services they need.

Fun activities for families at home can be found here.

Awesome outside activities for families. Maintain Social Distancing!

Information on the economic stimulus payments from the U.S. government can be found here and here.

U.S. Department of Agriculture information including Rural Development Assistance can be found here. Information updated April 8, 2020 can be found here.

Clark County Government

For updates on Clark County and County run facilities visit their website.

Clark County Commission Chairwoman Marilyn Kirkpatrick is launching a new resource tool for Southern Nevada residents looking for links and critical information relating to COVID-19 response. It can be found here.

Las Vegas Metropolitan Police

Las Vegas Metro Police Covid-19 Information

Las Vegas-Clark County Library District

All branches of the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District are closed until further notice.

Branch WiFi signal reaches into the parking lot of branches.

For more information about returns, WiFi and the library's digital resources, please visit their website.

Mesquite Justice Court

The Mesquite Justice Court has issued several administrative orders outlining changes to court operations due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19). Please visit the Mesquite Justice Court Website for more information: http://www.clarkcountynv.gov/justicecourt/mesquite/Pages/default.aspx

Virgin Valley Water District

Information on how Virgin Valley Water District is responding to the closures necessitated by Covid-19 can be found here.

Statement from VVWD on March 25, 2020 about working with Covid-19 late bill payers.

Overton Power District #5

Overton Power District explains what they are doing to deal with Covid-19 here.

State of Arizona/Mohave County

• Mohave County Public Health is reporting 3,284 cases of Covid-19 and 169 deaths as of 8/13/2020

• The State of Arizona is reporting 190,794 confirmed cases of Covid-19 and 4,383 deaths as of 8/13/2020

State of Utah/Southwest Utah Public Health

• Southwest Utah Public Health is reporting 3,264 cases of Covid-19 and 26 death as of 8/13/2020 (Washington, Iron, Kane, Beaver, & Garfield Counties)

• The State of Utah is reporting 45,090 Cases of Covid-19 and 351 deaths as of 8/13/2020

Updated 8/13/2020