Some retail businesses may be able to open their brick-and-mortar stores to customers as soon as the middle of the month under the COVID-19 recovery plan announced by Gov. Steve Sisolak on Thursday evening.

The new plan, which builds on a framework Sisolak released last week, maps out the four phases the state must go through in order to fully reopen Nevada’s economy, with the first phase focused on a slow reopening of some businesses that shuttered their doors last month and the final phase a “return to normalcy.” 

The plan, in many ways, parallels those put forward by other states. California, for instance, has also laid out a framework with four steps for reopening, though with specifics about the kinds of businesses that will be allowed to reopen in each phase. Idaho, on the other hand, has an extremely detailed plan that maps out for each phase not only what businesses can open but also the sizes of groups that will be allowed to gather and a timeline for each step.

Nevada’s, comparatively, is more broad. But, according to Sisolak’s speech Thursday night, that’s by design: The state plans to give its 17 counties significant discretion over how to implement each phase of the reopening, so long as the measures they put in place are at least as strict as those the state lays out.

Below, we’ll take a look at some of the highlights of Nevada’s “roadmap to recovery” and compare it to the plans put in place by California, Oregon, Washington and Colorado, the other states that with Nevada make up the Western States Pact. We’ll also compare Nevada’s plan against that of neighboring Arizona, Utah and Idaho and faraway New York, which has been hit hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Nevada

Stay-at-home-order expiration: Sisolak on Wednesday extended Nevada’s stay-at-home order until May 15.

What’s open now: Starting Friday, non-essential retail stores can start operating through curbside pickup or delivery models, churches may hold drive-in services so long as people remain in their vehicles and stay six feet apart from those in other households, and outdoor activities including golf, pickleball and tennis can resume. Essential businesses remain open, and hospitals have announced they are resuming “medically necessary” elective procedures.

The plan: Under phase one of Nevada’s plan, which is being called the “Battle Born Beginning,” nonessential businesses will be allowed to reopen so long as they adhere to “strict” social distancing measures, the state’s ban on public gatherings of more than 10 people will remain in place and the state will recommend that people still stay at home as much as possible and avoid all nonessential travel. 

Vulnerable residents will still be advised to stay at home, and the state is strongly encouraging otherwise healthy individuals who choose to venture out to continue to wear masks or other face coverings. Businesses that open will be encouraged to engage in curbside pickup though customers may be able to shop in stores with certain conditions. Sisolak said that Nevada is still considering a “gradual” reopening of dine-in restaurants and personal care services but that bars, nightclubs, malls, large sporting events, large in-person places of worship, and concert halls will remain closed during phase one. Gaming establishments will also not be able to open during phase one.

Once Nevada has significantly increased its testing and contract tracing capacity, the state will move away from “community mitigation” to “aggressive case-based intervention efforts,” focusing more on stopping the spread of the virus at a person-to-person level.

During Phase Two, which will be called the “Silver State Stabilization” phase, there will be a broader opening of retail businesses, services and public life with strict social distancing measures, hygiene protocols and occupancy limits. Vulnerable populations will still be advised to stay home, and those who go out in public will be encouraged to wear masks or other face coverings.

In Phase Three, “On the Road to Home Means Nevada,” restrictions will be further eased on public and mass gatherings and nonessential travel, though vulnerable residents will still be instructed to stay home. Finally, during Phase Four, “Home Means Nevada,” most or all businesses will be operating with “enhanced hygiene and vigilance” but there will otherwise be a “return to normalcy in daily lives.”

Starting with Phase One, county governments will bear the responsibility for determining how businesses in their jurisdictions will open and must set guidance that meets or exceeds the standards set by the state. To aid in that endeavor, Sisolak has formed a Local Empowerment Advisory Panel (LEAP) that will serve as a resource for counties as they determine how best to reopen and will track their progress through criteria reports and data the counties will be required to submit.

Timeline: Sisolak on Thursday said that the focus in the next couple of weeks will be meeting the five criteria the state has set out with the hope that it can move into Phase One of reopening on or before May 15. Those criteria include downward trends in cases and hospitalizations, improved health care infrastructure, more testing, more contact tracing and capacity to protect vulnerable populations.

Once Nevada is in Phase One, Sisolak said the state will remain there for at least two to three weeks to evaluate the impact on new infections and hospitalizations. A similar evaluation period will take place to move from Phase Two to Three. For Nevada to move from Phase Three to Four, however, the state cites the American Enterprise Institute in saying that there needs to be “robust surveillance” in place with testing, contact tracing, isolation and quarantine or a vaccine. Phase Four will not end, unless there is a second spike in disease.

California

Stay-at-home-order expiration: California has an indefinite stay-at-home order, though counties have implemented their own orders with differing expiration dates that could remain in place even as California takes steps to lift the statewide order.

What’s open now: Essential businesses are open. Some counties opened golf courses and beaches in the last week, however, California Gov. Gavin Newsom said on Thursday that state and local beaches in Orange County would close, and multiple news outlets have reported that Newsom plans to close all beaches and state parks throughout California. Essential surgeries are allowed to begin again.

The plan: Neighboring California has laid out a four-stage reopening plan. California is in Stage One of its plan, which includes preparing to reopen some parts of the state’s economy. The state is focusing on building out testing and contact-tracing capacity, increasing the availability of personal protective equipment and ensuring workplaces are safe for essential workers, among other things. 

California’s Stage Two is most similar to Nevada’s Phase One and will allow lower-risk workplaces to start opening, including allowing retail stores to open with curbside pickup, offices to welcome workers back when telework is not possible, and manufacturing sectors to open. Higher-risk businesses, such as salons and movie theatres, will not be allowed to open until Stage Three, and the highest-risk workplaces, such as concert halls and convention centers, can’t open until the stay-at-home order ends entirely. As with Nevada’s plan, regions will be allowed to implement stricter orders if they wish but must at least adhere to the minimum standards set by the state.

Timeline: California has not yet said when it expects to transition into Stage Two. However, like Nevada, it has laid out certain metrics it must first meet, including having stable hospitalization and ICU numbers, available surge capacity in hospitals, sufficient PPE, sufficient testing capacity and available staff to carry out contact tracing.

Arizona

Stay-at-home-order expiration: Arizona’s stay-at-home order extends through May 15.

What’s open now: Essential businesses, state parks and golf courses are open; hospitals can carry out elective surgeries starting Friday.

The plan: Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey announced on Thursday some of the steps the state will begin taking to reopen its economy. Starting Monday, retail businesses will be allowed to open on a limited basis with appointment-based services, limited occupancy, and curbside pickup and delivery. By the end of the week, retail business will be allowed to welcome customers with reduced occupancy, “comprehensive sanitation protocols” and options for curbside pickup or delivery. However, fitting rooms at clothing stores must remain closed, and the state is encouraging vulnerable individuals to stay home. The state will release a plan next week with guidance specifically for the restaurant industry. Ducey has said that the “best case scenario” for reopening restaurants according to the industry would be May 12.

Timeline: Beyond its plan for retail businesses and restaurants to begin reopening on a limited basis, Arizona has not provided further details for reopening. The state has said to expect ongoing announcements in May and promised to give its residents and businesses enough warning to prepare for any changes.

Utah

Stay-at-home-order expiration: Utah’s stay at home order expired on Friday; a new order establishing “moderate risk” protocols takes its place.

What’s open now: Utah is now transitioning from the “high” to “moderate” risk phase, which will allow “high-contact businesses” to begin operating under “strict protocols” and will allow restaurants to allow people to dine in under “strict requirements.” People are still encouraged to work remotely unless it is not possible and are encouraged to “leave home infrequently.”

The plan: Utah’s reopening plan will allow restaurants to welcome customers inside for dining; however, there must be six feet between tables at all times, managers have to check employees for symptoms before each shift, and staff must wear masks or other face coverings at all times and clean their hands between interactions at each table, among other precautions. It also allows gyms to reopen so long as they limit the number of customers in the facility at the same time, maintain 10 feet of distance between customers, clean equipment between each use and require staff to wear masks or other face coverings. Salons will also be allowed to open under similar restrictions.

Timeline: Utah has not yet announced when it will move into the “low” risk phase; however, the new executive order extends through May 15.

Oregon

Stay-at-home-order expiration: Oregon has an indefinite stay-at-home order that must be lifted by Gov. Kate Brown.

What’s open now: Essential businesses are open; the ocean shore is technically open in most places, though beach accesses are closed, as are all state parks; hospitals, surgery centers, medical offices and dentists' offices may resume “non-urgent” procedures starting Friday.

The plan: Brown has not laid out “phases” or “stages” of reopening as California and Nevada have. However, she has announced several criteria that the state must meet before it can begin reopening including ramping up testing, establishing “robust” contact tracing capacity and putting in place a program to isolate and quarantine new cases.

Timeline: Brown has not yet said when Oregon will begin lifting some of the restrictions put in place.

Idaho

Stay-at-home-order expiration: Ended Friday.

What’s open now: With the stay-at-home order lifted, Idaho is entering “Stage One” of its reopening plan, allowing many retail businesses and places of worship to reopen, Gov. Brad Little said Thursday.

The plan: Under Stage One, most non-essential businesses will be allowed to open their doors, though the state is continuing to encourage telework when possible and says that employees should return to in-person work in phases if physical distancing, personal protection and sanitation is possible. Places of worship and daycares will be allowed to reopen as well. Businesses not yet allowed to open include bars, nightclubs, restaurant dining rooms, indoor gyms, hair salons and large venues, including movie theatres. The state is also continuing to recommend that all vulnerable Idahoans quarantine and that those with vulnerable household members take extra precautions if they choose to venture out, and that gatherings be avoided. 

Under Stage Two, restaurants, indoor gyms and hair salons will be able to reopen and people will be able to gather in groups of less than 10, with physical distancing and precautionary measures. In Stage Three, vulnerable residents can go out in public with physical distancing and other precautions, and gatherings of 10 to 50 people can take place. Finally, in Stage Four, Idahoans can return to bars and nightclubs so long as they limit standing-room capacity, large venues can reopen with physical distancing protocols and people can gather in groups of more than 50 with physical distancing and precautionary measures.

Timeline: Idaho plans to enter a new phase every two weeks so long as it continues to meet the criteria it has set for itself and so long as there is not a significant increase in cases. That means Stage Two would take effect on May 16, Stage Three on May 30, and Stage Four on June 13.

Colorado

Stay-at-home-order expiration: Colorado Gov. Jared Polis issued a new “safer at home” executive order on Sunday outlining new protocols the state is putting in place; the measure, which went into effect on Monday, expires May 26.

What’s open now: On Monday, voluntary and elective medical, dental and veterinary procedures and real estate showings were allowed to resume, and retail businesses were allowed to open for curbside delivery. Starting Friday, retail businesses can phase in public opening so long as they are implementing “best practices;” personal services are also allowed to open if they are following best practices. 

The plan: The next step of the “safer at home” order kicks in on Monday when offices will be allowed to reopen with 50 percent of their staffing capacity with safety precautions. The state is continuing to encourage businesses to allow employees to telework when possible. Child care facilities can also expand or reopen if they are meeting safety requirements.

Timeline: Polis has not yet indicated what the next phase will be for Colorado. However, the state has noted that his executive order can be extended, amended or changed at any time.

Washington

Stay-at-home-order expiration: Washington Gov. Jay Inslee issued a “stay home, stay healthy” order, which is set to lift at the end of the day on May 4; Inslee has said he plans to extend the order.

What’s open now: Essential businesses are open; non-urgent medical procedures can resume if harm to the patient outweighs the benefits of deferring treatment; previously underway construction projects can resume.

The plan: Inslee has not announced a plan to start reopening Washington’s economy. However, he is allowing some outdoor recreation activities to resume on Tuesday. Washingtonians will be allowed to fish, hunt, play golf and visit state parks and state public lands. Anyone exhibiting cold or flu-like symptoms may not participate in outdoor recreation activities, and people must stay local for their recreation and practice social distancing, according to the state.

Timeline: Inslee has said that he will have more details on Friday about the state’s plan to reopen its economy.

New York

Stay-at-home-order expiration: New York’s stay at home order extends until May 15.

What’s open now: Essential businesses are open; essential construction is allowed to continue; medical centers in certain parts of the state are allowed to resume elective surgeries.

The plan: New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has established a plan for the state to open on a regional basis as soon as each region meets 12 requirements. Those criteria include a 14-day decline in hospitalizations, a robust testing and tracing system and the establishment of isolation facilities, among others. One of the criteria also requires businesses to be opened based on risk level: The manufacturing and construction sectors will be allowed to reopen in Phase One; other industries will be allowed to open based on priority and risk level in Phase Two. Regions will not be allowed to open businesses that would draw a large number of non-local patrons.

Timeline: Cuomo has said that upstate New York could start reopening after May 15, though restrictions in hard-hit New York City are not expected to be loosened anytime in the near future.