With an air of optimism, Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak has lifted a state mask mandate and made face coverings optional in casinos and other popular Las Vegas hotspots. The decision comes after a rapid decline in case numbers, declining hospitalizations, a drop in COVID-19 detected in wastewater and a broader availability of testing and available treatments.
The Las Vegas Review-Journal reports that the mandate has been removed from most casino floors, restaurants and seated venues. However, some taverns and casinos may still require employees to wear masks.
A spokesman for MGM Resorts, which operates a number of casinos in Nevada, says that the company has dropped its mask requirements. The move is effective immediately, and will apply to all of MGM’s properties in Nevada, as well as those in Mississippi, New Jersey and Ohio.
MGM’s Nevada properties include ARIA, Bellagio, Delano, Excalibur, Luxor, Mandalay Bay, MGM Grand, Park MGM, The Mirage, New York-New York, Vdara and T-Mobile Arena.
Boyd Gaming, which operates Main Street Station, Fremont Hotel & Casino and California Hotel and Casino, has also decided to drop its mask requirement. In a tweet, the company said it has removed all signage that required guests to wear masks.
Many other hotels and casinos are jumping on the bandwagon as well, including Caesars Palace and the Cromwell. The Cromwell spokesman told 8 News that the move will help get the venue back to its full health and will not have a significant impact on its bottom line until spring break and the summer.
The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority weighed in, as well. It says the move is good for the tourism industry, which relies on business from tourists and conventions.
“The end of the indoor mask mandate is a positive step that will help us attract more visitors to our city and help us to continue to improve the health and safety of all our team members,” the organization says in a statement.
While the CDC does recommend that people wearing masks be socially isolated in public areas, the CDC has updated its guidance. It now says that fully vaccinated individuals can lose their masks inside or outside, and can even skip social distancing.
It is important to note that the CDC still requires that people wear masks in areas where they are exposed to people who have not been fully vaccinated. In addition to this, the CDC suggests that travelers delay travel and be sure to have a Covid-19 test before they leave their home country.
Other than those situations, the CDC has advised that if you are traveling and want to avoid masks, the best way is to visit an urgent care facility or a local healthcare provider in your hometown before you go. You can find information on how to do this by visiting the CDC’s website.
The CDC also recommends that if you are not fully vaccinated, you should wait at least two weeks before visiting Vegas to avoid the risk of getting sick. In fact, it’s a good idea to avoid all travel until you are fully vaccinated and have had a booster shot.