Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak ordered all Nevadans and tourists
to wear face coverings in public, effective June 26, to stem a spike in the
state’s Covid-19 cases.
“Wearing mask coverings saves lives, period. End of story,”
Sisolak said during a press conference on June 24. “We owe it to each other to
accept the fact that wearing face mask coverings saves lives.”
Hours before Sisolak’s mandate, Caesars Entertainment
announced that guests are required to wear masks indoors except when eating or
drinking. MGM Resorts International and other hospitality companies also
anticipated the governor’s move.
“It’s good policy,” MGM Resorts acting CEO Bill Hornbuckle
told the USA Today Network. “Caution is critically important, and we have seen
that those areas, those states, those businesses that required masks in the
collective have fared better than those that have not.”
Previously, Nevada gaming regulators only required players
to wear masks at gaming tables where there are no plexiglass partitions.
“We promised that Caesars would continue to evaluate the
latest recommendations, directives and medical science regarding the Covid-19
public health emergency and modify our enhanced health and safety protocols
accordingly,” said Caesars Entertainment CEO Tony Rodio.
Earlier this month, promotions employees at the company’s
five reopened properties in Las Vegas randomly distributed $20 in free
slot-machine play to Caesars Rewards members wearing masks while gambling. The
effort was designed to encourage the practice and provide incentive to others
who may have been resisting.
“We’ve got an obligation to keep our employees safe as well
as our customers safe with all the peace of mind that we can that working in
Vegas and coming to Vegas and having fun can be a safe and healthy experience,”
Steve Hill, CEO of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, told the
Las Vegas Review-Journal. “This is just a necessary and smart step on behalf of
the governor to make sure we can continue to do that.”
The LVCVA rolled out a social media campaign promoting the
message shortly before the June 4 reopening of hotel-casinos. Hill added, “We’ve
done some preliminary research that shows a large majority of visitors would be
willing to wear a mask if required.”
Sisolak said the mantra, “No shirt, no shoes, no mask, no
service,” should be in effect at all businesses serving guests. He said he
doesn’t anticipate fining visitors without masks but will hold businesses
accountable.
“Businesses that fail to meet requirements in this directive
will face violations from licensing agencies and regulatory authorities, in
addition to Nevada OSHA,” Sisolak said. “A reminder as well -- businesses have
the right to ask a patron to leave if they are not following this directive.”