Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak changed course Wednesday and issued a directive that masks or facial coverings must be worn in public settings – including casinos – in an effort to slow a renewed increase in coronavirus cases.
The order, which takes effect Friday, comes after the state saw several days of spikes in cases of COVID-19, including a record 483 cases on Tuesday. Nevada health officials expressed concern that the coronavirus pandemic is beginning to surge once again, with more than 14,000 cases now reported.
Health and safety officials have said that wearing masks and practicing social distancing can deter the spread of COVID-19 from person to person.
“Today, I signed a directive with a new requirement for Nevadans and visitors to cover their noses and mouths with a mask or face covering when in public space, whether publicly or privately owned,” Sisolak said in an afternoon news conference in Carson City. “For Nevada to stay safe and stay open, we must make face coverings a routine part of our daily life.”
Workers at several Strip casinos have tested positive for coronavirus, despite the properties operating under strict health and safety guidelines. Nevada’s casinos reopened June 4 after being closed for 78 days due to the pandemic. The Nevada Gaming Control Board required all resort and casino employees to wear masks while at work but had made the usage optional for casino customers. Operators were required to provide face coverings to guests and were told to “strongly encourage” that masks be worn.
The Culinary Union, the largest union that represents non-gaming employees inside Las Vegas casino-resorts, had advocated for the use of masks to become mandatory.
On Wednesday, Caesars Entertainment became the first major gaming operator to require that facial masks be worn at all times inside the company’s casinos nationwide, except when eating or drinking. The move became effective Wednesday.
Support for masks
Gaming companies quickly applauded the governor’s decision.
“Mandatory face coverings have had no impact on the ability of our employees to deliver great guest experiences,” Wynn Resorts said in a statement. “Similarly, we believe face coverings will not diminish the unique experiences only Las Vegas can offer visitors.”
MGM Resorts International acting CEO Bill Hornbuckle said the company would add the requirement for guests to the company’s health and safety plan.
“Given the public health situation and the reports of new cases, we support the governor’s decision to require masks in public places and will begin to enforce according to his guidelines,” Hornbuckle said in a statement.
The decision by Sisolak comes three days after New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said Atlantic City’s nine casinos could reopen on July 2 with 25% occupancy and with health and safety requirements that include the directive that all those who enter the properties – employees and patrons – wear facial masks. In California, tribal casinos have required customers to wear masks.
“I mandated Nevada businesses and employees who interact with the public wear face coverings and continued to strongly encourage members of the public to wear face coverings as well,” Sisolak said. “Unfortunately, as you can see from the data, we have taken some steps backward.”
Last week, the Gaming Control Board updated its coronavirus health and safety policies to require patrons to wear facial masks or face coverings at table games unless there is a partition or shield that separates the dealer from each player.
Control Board Chairwoman Sandra Douglass Morgan said gaming agents had visited Nevada casinos and were concerned with an evident lack of protection for employees and customers.
“Clearly for many, the excitement and enthusiasm for escaping our confinement and finally being able to enjoy dinner out with our families, buy new clothes or get a haircut, overshadowed the good judgment we practiced in the previous months,” Sisolak said.
Culinary Workers Local 226 officials said the order for masks at table games protected dealers, but those same protections needed to be broadened to protect bartenders, cocktail waitresses, cleaners, and other workers who interact with guests.
COVID-19 cases on the Strip
Less than half the Strip resorts reopened initially under the social distancing conditions and restrictions implemented by the Control Board, which includes a 50% limit on capacity, a reduced number of slot machines, and fewer seats at gaming tables.
Additional properties have announced reopenings through July 1, in time for the July 4th holiday weekend.
Despite the safeguards, reports of workers testing positive for coronavirus have surfaced.
Last week, two employees at the Flamingo Las Vegas tested positive for COVID-19, according to Caesars Entertainment. The company said Saturday that it would temporarily close Guy Fieri’s Vegas Kitchen & Bar at the Linq after an employee at the location tested positive.
The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas said two concierge employees tested positive last week. The resort said contact tracing had begun to notify employees and guests who might have been exposed.
The Mayfair Supper Club at the Bellagio closed for several days after an employee tested positive for the virus, but reopened Saturday. On Monday, Northside Café at the Sahara Las Vegas closed after three employees tested positive for COVID-19.
Clark County, which includes Las Vegas, recorded a new one-day high of 412 new cases on Tuesday, according to the Southern Nevada Health District. The department said 295 new COVID-19 cases were recorded Wednesday, giving the county a total of 11,481 cases and a death toll of 404. Statewide, Nevada has seen more than 14,457 cases of COVID-19, with 94 deaths.
The state infection rate, considered a better barometer of how the outbreak is trending, continued to edge higher in the most recent report, reaching 5.70 percent on Wednesday.
Howard Stutz is the executive editor of CDC Gaming Reports. He can be reached at hstutz@cdcgaming.com. Follow @howardstutz on Twitter.
