The state of Nevada announced Thursday it would drop its mask mandate across the state and as more states continue to relax COVID restrictions.
CARSON CITY, Nev. — Nevada and its casinos have rescinded requirements for people to wear masks in public, joining most other U.S. states lifting restrictions that were imposed to limit the spread of the coronavirus. Democratic Gov. Steve Sisolak announced Thursday that he would no longer require face coverings in public places, «effective immediately.»State casino regulators followed with a rule change for casinos.»Individuals are no longer required to wear a mask in public indoor settings in licensed gaming establishments,» the Nevada Gaming Control Board said, «unless a local jurisdiction still imposes such a requirement.»Masks won’t be required in jails and correctional facilities, Sisolak said, but «there are locations where Nevadans and visitors may still be asked to wear a mask» including hospitals, clinics and long-term care facilities, and at airports, on planes and on public buses and school buses. The governor acknowledged a wide divergence of opinion about dropping the mask mandate.»Some people think we were ready long ago, some people think we’re not ready yet,» he said. «I feel now is the appropriate time to move forward.»He added that employers and school districts can still set their own policies. The National Federation of Independent Business state chapter on Wednesday urged Sisolak to drop the mask mandate it said was making it hard for small businesses to retain and hire workers. Separately, Bill Hornbuckle, president and CEO of MGM Resorts International, the state’s largest employer, said during an earnings conference call Wednesday that he anticipated the mask rule in Nevada would be relaxed.»I expect that given positive COVID trends in Nevada we will start to see meaningful loosening of COVID restrictions in the very near future consistent with what we have seen in other states,» Hornbuckle said.
