Nevada governor to allow casinos to reopen next week

Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak (D) on Tuesday announced that the state’s casinos will begin reopening next week, a move that could provide a big economic boost amid the coronavirus’s burgeoning economic fallout.

Sisolak, at a press conference, cited “positive trends” in Nevada’s coronavirus data and said he would work with the Gaming Control Board to ensure safety standards are met in casinos.

“The Board was briefed on how these various entities have worked with the gaming industry to ensure that there is a comprehensive plan in place to respond to and mitigate the effects of positive cases of COVID-19 that present themselves in the State’s resort corridors,” Sisolak said, according to his prepared remarks.

“It is critical to put the health and safety of employees, residents and visitors first through proactive measures, coupled with the Health and Safety Policies issued by the Gaming Control Board. This is what will help ensure that Nevada can safely reopen its gaming industry on June 4.”

Sisolak first shuttered casinos nearly 10 weeks ago, an unprecedented step that closed off an industry that attracts millions of tourists to Las Vegas and helps drive the state’s economy.

The governor expressed confidence that the institutions would observe social distancing guidelines and urged Nevadans to wear facial coverings “like a badge of honor.”

“I know the Gaming Control Board remains resolute in ensuring that gaming operations in this State do not compromise the health and safety of Nevadans, our employees and our visitors,” said Sisolak. 

“As always, I encourage Nevadans to stay vigilant and protect themselves against this virus. Our goal is to prevent a surge in cases that our health care system cannot handle. We cannot do this without each of you accepting the personal responsibility to follow the social distancing guidelines in professional and personal decisions,” he added. 

Should the casinos follow social distancing measures and be able to remain open, they could provide a crucial boost to the state’s economy.

Nevada had the highest unemployment rate of any state in the country last month, with 28.2 percent of workers without a job — nearly double the national average of 14.7 percent. Twenty-four casinos on the Las Vegas Strip earned over $72 million in fiscal 2017, according to the Center for Gaming Research.  

Besides the announcement on casinos, Sisolak said in-person religious services of up to 50 people could start Friday and places like gyms, movie theaters, shopping malls and bars could open with some restrictions. 

Sisolak was forced to cancel an in-person news conference after he found out that an employee at a workplace he visited last week has since tested positive for COVID-19. The worker was not in the building at the time and Sisolak has shown no symptoms in the five days since the visit.