The Venetian, Caesars Palace Could Temporarily Shutter as Some Nevada Businesses Disregard Mask Rule
Posted on: July 4, 2020, 10:38h.
Last updated on: July 6, 2020, 11:08h.
Some Las Vegas casinos could voluntarily temporarily close their doors because of coronavirus worries, following what is promising to be a generally upbeat July 4 weekend for gaming properties and tourism.
“We hear some Las Vegas casinos could close temporarily due to COVID-19 concerns,” Vital Vegas, a popular online media site, reported on Friday. “A reliable source believes Venetian has plans to close, yet again, following the July 4 weekend.”
The Venetian shuttering, if it takes place, would be for a week to 10 days, the report added. But at mid-day Saturday The Venetian issued a tweet which said, “This social media rumor concerning a planned closure of the resort is false.”
We’ve also heard frontline staffers at Caesars Palace have relayed to guests the resort will temporarily close following the long weekend,” Vital Vegas further reported. “These rumors are unconfirmed, but it’s unlikely any casino would telegraph such moves heading into what’s expected to be a busy July 4 weekend.”
There is no immediate word whether Caesars Palace denies that rumor.
Despite the rumors, this week several Las Vegas Strip casinos and hotels reopened following lengthy closures because of the pandemic. KLAS, a local TV station, reported these include the Mandalay Bay, the Delano, Aria, the Waldorf Astoria, and the Four Seasons. Other Las Vegas casinos resumed limited operations last month.
Stripped Down
As of Friday, July 3, more tourists were seen on the Strip than in prior days, but still, far fewer pedestrians were present than before the pandemic. Many of them drove to the Strip from states that neighbor Nevada, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported.
For instance, Los Angeles residents Nicole and Paul Viazcan came prepared with wipes, hand sanitizer, and Lysol, the Review-Journal said. They last visited Las Vegas in January and noted the many pedestrians on Friday not wearing masks.
While at the Bellagio fountains, Jaylen Torres and her fiance, Abisai Garcia, said they drove to Las Vegas for the day from Salt Lake City. They planned to visit the Linq Hotel’s High Roller.
“It seems slow,” Garcia told the Review-Journal about the vibe and crowd size. “Businesses aren’t open as early,” he added.
Nate Johnson, an Illinois resident who frequently visits Nevada with his wife, told the Review-Journal Las Vegas is “not nearly as much fun” during the pandemic than it was before the COVID-19 outbreak. They are staying at the Bellagio, but in the future will not return to the city until Gov. Steve Sisolak’s (D) June 26 face-mask-in-public rule has expired.
(There are) a lot more rules, and usually people come to Vegas because there are no rules,” Johnson told the Review-Journal. “It’s definitely not the same Vegas.”
Crowds at the Bellagio and its gaming floor were “small but steady” Friday morning, the Review-Journal additionally reported. Guests were basically wearing masks, but coverings on some players at table games failed to cover their noses, the Review-Journal said. One female slot machine player lowered her mask under her chin while she smoked a cigarette, the report adds. At the Flamingo, most players wore masks, but many facial coverings were lowered below their noses or were pushed down as they smoked.
Some pedestrians and others on Las Vegas Boulevard at mid-day Friday chose not to wear masks, perhaps because of hot summer temperatures, the Review-Journal also reported.
Sisolak: ‘Must Comply with Face Mask Rule’
Before the July 4 weekend, only 49 percent of businesses, such as bars, restaurants, and other enterprises, were complying with Sisolak’s stricter facial covering rule, according to the Nevada Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), based on its over 200 inspections undertaken on Thursday, reported KSNV, a local TV station.
Since the mask rule went into effect, the business compliance rate was 85 percent in northern Nevada and 65 percent in southern Nevada, OSHA said.
The news led to a stern warning from the governor.?“The noncompliance numbers reported by State officials are disappointing and unacceptable a week after the face coverings directive was issued,” Sisolak said.
If these concerning reports on noncompliance continue, I will not hesitate to take swift and decisive actions next week directed at targeted industries or areas that are experiencing concerning COVID-19 trends and non-compliance,” the governor added.
Businesses that fail to comply could face a maximum fine of $134,940. The governor’s admonition comes as Las Vegas casinos and hotels are facing increasing cases of coronavirus among their workers and the general public.
On Friday, there were 576 new cases of COVID-19 in Nevada’s Clark County. It marks the fifth time in the last six days the Southern Nevada Health District reported at least 500 new coronavirus cases in a daily report. Several Las Vegas casino employees tested positive for COVID-19 in recent weeks, the Review-Journal said.
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Last Comments ( 24 )
ann harrison comment is the right one regardless anybody likes it or not. And it is even worse. I would add another logical point for those not to know the difference between clinical and ordinary use of masks. People have to eat and drink, i.e. lower their masks. I never heard virus knows this or is so polite and stops attacking people because they are just eating, drinking or so. What a naivity a mask can prevent anything in ordinary wearing. It is exactly the opposite, dirty masks attract all kind of viruses and nasty bacteria not only this so called coronavirus. And within an hour or so every mask is dirty, not to mention in tropical heat of Las Vegas. And furthermore, filtering air is like drinking destile water. One can try to do so but do not complain later if you end up at intensive care after a while. Lungs need most of the time natural air, not the filter one. And staying at home? Great idea, tell those waiting for us to come and spend our money. But many will not come if they are subject to these restrictions. But again, do not complain if you bankrupt if you establish all these great protective rules and nobody shows up. And ones you discourage the visitors, it is damn difficult to get them back. Las Vegas was established as a "Factory for Dreams" not a jail with tens of restrictive rules. And it is even worse, its economy is based on massive occupancy with optimal costs and not on few visitors willing to do whatever they are asked to do plus heafty extra costs for so called health protection. Goood luck everybody with such an inovative economic model.
All employees deserve a raise for risking their lives for these businesses to continue to make their money how Inhumane to consider money over human life’s ! It should be mandatory stay at home until they get a grip on the outburst of coronavirus or a vaccine
I stayed at Flamingo in the past two weeks. Masks were enforced and social distancing was enforced. This is a public health crisis, not a political issue. If people really want their business to stay open, they will wear masks and social distance. Guests like myself who enjoy going there were happy to do our part as well as contributing to the Nevada economy.
Some of you folks who object to wearing masks because of a perceived conspiracy by the Government show you ignorance. Your logic is flawed, so you are unable to make a reasoned argument. Ranting does not make your position better. The law is very clear – the Government has the authority to order that you wear a mask if you elect to go out in public. This law is well established in other areas of life. For example, if you chose to ride in a car the Government has the authority to order that you wear a seat belt. Seat belt rules, like mask rules, are the Government’s attempt to protect you. Ordering people to wear masks has nothing to do with politics or mind control, and it has everything to do with public safety.
of course there are more cases of covid. Masks work in clinical settings. they do NOT work in everyday life. You lower your mask, you touch your mask, you remove your mask, every time you do this, you are bringing the virus right to your face. The mask will actually attract the particles of covid and bammmmm, you are now breathing it right in. The asshole knew what he was doing,,,,,wear masks, infect more people
Explain to me again why the world is closed? Why in the world would we support masks that have 0% efficacy in preventing the spread of viruses? Why in the world would we continue to promote this anti-American propaganda? Population of Globe: 7,800,000,000 Covid Deaths: 535,000 Covid Death Rate: 0.00006858974 Survivability Rate: 99.9999314103% Population of USA: 328,200,000 Covid Deaths: 133,000 Covid Death Rate: 0.00040524 Survivability Rate: 99.999595% Population of Nevada: 3,080,000 Covid Deaths: 534 Covid Death Rate: 0.00017338 Survivability Rate: 99.999827%
This governor is a goddamn pussy. The numbers he's getting are obviously fake. They hype the numbers up by including probable cases, which are people that haven't even been tested yet, but might have it because they knew someone that had it. The tests themselves are unreliable. False positives and false negatives. The 6 foot rule was literally pulled out of Fauci's ass. There is no research or studies that indicate 6 ft is adequate for this nonsense. The face masks are a joke because they don't protect anyone from getting or transmitting the virus. Even says so on the boxes those masks come in. And they do make it harder to breath. This sorry ass excuse for a governor has done absolutely no research on his own. He is relying on CBS, NBC, and the rest of the corrupt corporate media for his information. He has absolutely no critical thinking or observational skills. He is a POS democrat. This whole thing is about mind control and obedience. And thru all this non-sense I have not heard anywhere what is it that gives him the authority to act like a dictator. What authority is it that turns him into God?? Businesses need to fight this nonsense and get things back underway. Get the lawyers working on this BS. The gov't would prefer it be shut down to control people.
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If everyone wore a mask then less would get sick. Its very simple. People can wear a mask for a few months for the betterment of everyone. People are ok wearing a shirt and shoes when told they wouldn't get service otherwise.