Nevada's newly minted Gov. Joe Lombardo, a Republican, said Friday that he signed his first two executive orders, including one that repeals all COVID-19 mandates from the prior administration.
Many of Sisolak's directives, including masking and social distancing, haven't been active in over a year.
Lombardo's office said of the executive order that "the number of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are significantly down from their peaks, vaccinations and treatments are widely available, and many Nevadans have built up natural immunity."
"Therefore, this executive order repeals and rescinds any remaining COVID-19 era declarations, executive orders, and emergency directives," it added.
Lombardo, who ran as a more moderate candidate compared to the rest of the Republican primary field, called for unity while speaking at his Jan. 4 inauguration ceremony, saying that "in some places, we are needlessly polarized."
Still, he made clear he stands for conservative ideals.
"At the same time, I will carry the cause of conservative ideals that are anchored by the personal responsibility, fiscal discipline and limited government interference,” he said, reiterating his campaign pledge of no new taxes.
Lombardo also repeatedly referenced the “Nevada Way,” a concept that includes personal grit in overcoming adversity.
He applied that idea to what he described as difficult years during the COVID-19 pandemic and the hit Nevada’s tourist-based economy took amid lockdowns and other business restrictions.
“Each time that we were forced to confront these setbacks, we reemerged more driven to succeed than ever before,” he said.
