CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) — Nevada plans to gradually loosen its current coronavirus restrictions over the next three months before delegating decisions about business closures to local governments on May 1.

Gov. Steve Sisolak said Thursday that the state's recent progress in containing the virus prompted him to loosen restrictions on businesses and people gathering.

He applauded the state's progress in containing the virus and administering vaccines. But he said Nevada still had to work to further contain the pandemic.

The governor's new plan will be rolled out in phases in the upcoming months and contains a complex patchwork of restrictions that he said were based on risk levels.