CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) — Nevada's coronavirus task force voted Thursday to relax criteria for testing and positivity rates that counties must achieve to avoid being flagged as "elevated risk."

State officials acknowledged that progress in containing the coronavirus pandemic has reversed course in recent weeks.

But they stressed the importance of balancing the need to gradually reopen business to avert economic disaster while preventing further spread of the virus.

The loosening of the criteria comes a week after the lifting of the 50-person cap on gatherings. Also at the meeting, brothel owners from Storey and Nye County demanded the state allow them to reopen.