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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
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DISTRICT OF NEVADA
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IN RE: ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENT OF
6 FACE COVERINGS FOR ACCESS TO THE
TEMPORARY GENERAL ORDER
7 COURTHOUSES DUE TO 2020-08
CIRCUMSTANCES CREATED BY COVID-
8 19 AND RELATED CORONAVIRUS
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10 In response to the recent outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019 (“COVID-19”)
11 in the District of Nevada, the Court has issued a series of general orders changing how
12 the Court operates to do its part in containing the spread of COVID-19. See Temporary
13 General Orders 2020-02, 2020-03, 2020-04, 2020-05.1 As the Court incrementally
14 resumes in-person hearings, in a phased approach based on recommended health
15 guidelines, the Court finds it necessary to adopt additional protocols for access to the
16 United States District Court for the District of Nevada courthouses in Reno and Las
17 Vegas (“the Courthouses”). General Order 2020-02 prohibits individuals who exhibit
18 COVID-19 symptoms, or have had contact with COVID-19-positive individuals, from
19 entering the Courthouses. That Order remains in effect. This Order imposes additional
20 requirements in light of recommendations from public health officials that we all wear
21 face coverings to prevent the spread of COVID-19 where social distancing measures
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25 1Available at https://www.nvd.uscourts.gov/court-information/rules-and-
orders/general-orders/.
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1 are difficult to implement.2 The Court therefore orders the following protocols for use of
2 face coverings effective May 18, 2020.
3 1) During court proceedings, everyone inside the courtroom is required to wear
4 a face covering, to the extent practical and where social distancing measures
5 are difficult to maintain. The presiding judge may modify this requirement for
6 particular court proceedings.
7 2) All employees of the United States District Court for the District of Nevada
8 must wear face coverings during security screening and while they are in
9 public areas of the Courthouses. Employees who have contact with members
10 of the public outside of court proceedings as described above are required to
11 wear face coverings during their interactions. The Court will provide face
12 coverings for employees.
13 3) Members of the public are encouraged, but not required, to wear face
14 coverings during security screening and while they are in public areas of the
15 Courthouses. The Court will provide face coverings for members of the public
16 who come to the Courthouses for court-related businesses without a face
17 covering, provided that the Court has a sufficient supply.
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2The Centers for Disease Control recommends “wearing cloth face coverings in
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public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g.,
21 grocery stores and pharmacies), especially in areas of significant community-based
transmission.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Use of Cloth Face Coverings
22 to Help Slow the Spread of COVID-19, https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-
ncov/prevent-getting-sick/diy-cloth-face-coverings.html (last accessed May 12, 2020)
23 (emphasis in original). In addition, the Governor of the State of Nevada has mandated
that “employers shall require employees who interact with the public to wear face
24 coverings, to the maximum extent possible . . .” Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak,
Declaration of Emergency, Directive 018 Phase One Reopening, at Section 9,
25 http://gov.nv.gov/News/Emergency Orders/2020/2020-05-07 - COVID-
19 Declaration of Emergency Directive 018 - Phase One Reopening/ (last
accessed May 12, 2020). The Governor further encourages everyone to “utilize face
26 coverings in public spaces.” Id. at Section 5.
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1 4) The requirement of wearing face coverings established herein does not apply
2 to individuals who cannot wear a face covering due to a medical condition.
3 This Order is effective until further notice.
4 DATED THIS 14th day of May 2020.
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7 MIRANDA M. DU, CHIEF JUDGE
8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR
THE DISTRICT OF NEVADA
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