Reno Reporter

Bob Lucey, chair of the Washoe County Commission and the county's top elected Republican, recently stated that he would not continue to follow Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak's mask mandate, according to a News4 report.

During a discussion regarding the county's current COVID-19 status on Wednesday, Dec. 15, Lucey argued that because vaccines are currently available, people have options and he believes the decision should be up to the individual.

“It is important Nevadans continue to protect themselves and those around them from #COVID19 by getting fully vaccinated, getting boosted, wearing masks in public indoor spaces, and staying home if they are sick,” Sisolak announced in a Twitter post Dec. 20.

Sisolak also responded directly to Lucey's statements in an interview on the afternoon of Dec. 15.

"I follow the science. I don't know what Bob's following. But you know, I think it's irresponsible," Sisolak said.

Currently, Sisolak's mandate requires all residents of counties with large or high levels of COVID-19 transmission, regardless of vaccination status, to wear masks inside public areas.

As of Dec. 14, the virus was estimated to have infected more than 70,000 residents of Washoe County, which reportedly crossed the virus's 1000-death threshold on the day Lucey made his comments.