Nevada reimposes mask mandate in Las Vegas

The use of masks will be required in all indoor spaces, including at casinos, in 12 of Nevada’s 17 counties.

US.- Nevada’s governor Steve Sisolak has signed an emergency directive to reimpose a mask mandate in 12 of Nevada’s 17 counties that show high rates of Covid-19 transmission. That includes Clark County, where Las Vegas is located.

In recent weeks, the US has seen a rise in Covid-19 cases, most of which are attributed to the highly contagious Delta variant. Nationwide, 49.94 per cent of counties are considered as having a “high” risk of transmission, and another 16.68 per cent are at “substantial” risk.

Alan Feldman, a former casino executive who is now a fellow at the International Gaming Institute at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, said: “It feels like we’re in the midst of a real-life action thriller. Will the delta variant spread so fast that further restrictions have to be implemented?”

“We’ll just have to see if there is to be further damage to the state’s economy before we can comfortably say that we’re out of the woods.”

Lori Nelson-Kraft, a spokeswoman for the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, told the Las Vegas Review-Journal: “We fully support the State of Nevada adopting the CDC’s recommendation to help minimize the spread of the virus to enable our local community and visitors to enjoy all of the offerings that make Las Vegas the entertainment capital of the world.

“We continue to advocate and encourage vaccinations as they remain the most effective solution to combating the virus.”