Nevada reimposes indoor mask mandate in Las Vegas
The much-ballyhooed Vegas comeback has run into another obstacle, as the state of Nevada is reinstating its indoor mask mandate for everyone in an effort to containing the spread of COVID-19.
Governor Steve Sisolak issued an emergency directive on Tuesday, requiring face masks be worn indoors in public places by everyone — vaccinated or not — in 12 of Nevada's 17 counties that show high rates of COVID transmission.
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That includes Clark County, which the City of Las Vegas is a part of. The governor’s edict follows the latest update by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention regarding masks. The CDC now recommends people wear masks indoors in areas with high transmission rates, whether they are vaccinated or not.
If you're planning a visit to Vegas in the foreseeable future, this means you need to pack your masks. As of 12:01 a.m. Friday, July 30, face coverings are mandatory inside casinos, restaurants, bars and shops. The governor gave businesses and residents a three-day grace period to prepare for the change.
The casino industry supports the decision. The Nevada Gaming Control Board put out its own directive to the state’s gaming licensees, instructing them to follow the CDC guidelines and Sisolak’s order. Casinos must also post signage across their properties letting customers know where face masks are required.
MGM Resorts, the biggest casino operator in Vegas, issued a statement saying, “Nothing is more important than the health and safety of guests, employees and our community. We continually evaluate and update our policies based on the latest information and guidance from health experts and public officials.”
Wynn Las Vegas also put out a statement saying it will comply with the mask decree. “We will follow the Governor’s and Control Board’s directive and require all guests and employees to wear masks indoors, which we will communicate with signage and masks at entrance doors to the resort,” it said.
The state’s directive does provide exceptions for participants in certain activities or events, including athletes, performers and musicians. Customers at those performances and events, however, will have to mask up.
In a statement announcing the new mandate, the governor's office said, “Businesses and residents in counties with substantial or high transmission are strongly urged to adopt the changes as soon as possible.”
According to CDC data cited by the governor's office, the following counties fall into this category: Carson, Churchill, Clark, Douglas, Elko, Esmeralda, Lincoln, Lyon, Mineral, Nye, Washoe and White Pine.
The return of mandatory mask usage in Vegas has seemed inevitable for weeks, even as local officials struggled to balance concerns about restarting the area's tourism-dependent economy with public safety worries.
Clark County had recently ordered all Vegas employees who work indoors to mask up, but resisted extending the mandate to tourists and other customers over the objections of local health officials.
Governor Sisolak dropped the indoor mask-wearing order in May for vaccinated people, again following CDC guidance. It remained in place for unvaccinated people, but that order was mostly unenforced and flat-out ignored according to local media reports. Within weeks, as the state relaxed most pandemic restrictions and the delta strain began spreading, COVID-19 rates started to climb.
Related: Some states warn against visiting Vegas for fear of rising COVID rates
Nevada is currently struggling with one of the highest rates of COVID-19 infections in the U.S. Hospitalizations are rapidly climbing in the area -- with Clark County, in particular, seeing a sharp rise -- and nearly all of the new cases can be traced to the highly infectious delta variant.
The CDC’s new recommendation for indoor mask usage applies to areas where there are at least 50 new cases per 100,000 people in the last week. That includes about 60% of U.S. counties, according to The Associated Press. There have been 236 new cases per 100,000 population in Clark County in that time frame, according to the Southern Nevada Health District’s website.
Health district officials said in a statement they support the state's new directive, and added, “While using masks correctly has proven to be effective in helping to prevent people from getting and spreading COVID-19, the best, most effective step people can take to protect themselves is to get fully vaccinated.”
Of course, Las Vegas isn't the only city in Nevada where the mask mandate could have an impact on tourism. Carson and Washoe are home to a number of casino resorts. Reno is in Washoe, so that city's casino properties will also be impacted by the new mask rules.
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- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
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- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
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You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.