COVID-19 pandemic in Nevada
The COVID-19 pandemic was confirmed to have reached the U.S. state of Nevada on March 5, 2020. Because of concerns about coronavirus disease 2019, Nevada governor Steve Sisolak declared a state of emergency on March 12, 2020. Four days later, Nevada reported its first death. As of July 23, 2020, 39,919 positive cases and 709 deaths have been reported in the state. The majority of cases and deaths have occurred in Clark County, which includes the Las Vegas Valley.
On March 17, 2020, Sisolak ordered the closure of non-essential businesses in the state, to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Grocery stores were among the businesses considered essential, and restaurants were allowed to provide drive-thru, takeout, and delivery services. At the end of March 2020, Sisolak announced a 90-day moratorium on evictions and foreclosures for commercial and residential tenants.
Various protests were held against Sisolak's shutdown order beginning in April 2020. Las Vegas mayor Carolyn Goodman was also critical of the shutdown and its length, urging Sisolak to reopen the state. Goodman was widely criticized after suggesting that Las Vegas become a control group to test the effectiveness of social distancing. Nevada launched the first phase of its reopening on May 9, 2020. Restaurants, retailers, outdoor malls, and hair salons were among the businesses allowed to reopen, but with precautions in place, such as limiting occupancy to 50 percent. On May 11, 2020, Sisolak declared a fiscal state of emergency. A second phase went into effect on May 29, 2020. It allowed for the reopening of state parks and businesses such as bars, gyms, and movie theaters. Casinos began reopening on June 4, 2020.
Timeline
March 2020
On March 5, 2020, Nevada reported its first case of coronavirus disease 2019. The patient, a man in his 50s, recently traveled to Washington state and lives in Las Vegas.On March 12, 2020, because of concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic, Nevada governor Steve Sisolak declared a state of emergency. Nevada became the 24th state to do so because of the pandemic. Sisolak also formed a five-member team of medical experts to advise him during the pandemic.
On March 13, 2020, the Eighth District Court and the Nevada Supreme Court implemented changes in order to protect people from infection. In Clark County, all jury trials for the next 30 days were suspended. The Las Vegas Justice Court subsequently suspended eviction proceedings for 30 days. In Las Vegas, courtrooms operated with reduced occupancy and employees, and social distancing was implemented as well. Non-essential court hearings that were already scheduled had the option of proceeding through videoconference or telephone.
On March 15, 2020, MGM Resorts and Wynn Resorts announced that they would close their properties on the Las Vegas Strip to help prevent the spread of the virus. Simultaneously, Sisolak ordered the closure of the state's schools until April 6, 2020, while schools in the Clark County School District would remain closed until April 13. Following the school closures, children were educated through distance learning. Las Vegas mayor Carolyn Goodman disagreed with Sisolak's decision, as she wanted schools in her city to remain open, with people assigned to all entrances to check the temperatures of students.
On March 16, 2020, Nevada reported its first death from the coronavirus: a man in his 60s, from Las Vegas. On the same day, Eureka County announced immediate closures of certain facilities to protect its citizens from COVID-19. In addition, all non-essential travel of Eureka County employees was suspended indefinitely. The Second Judicial Court in Washoe County closed its facilities and proceeded through videoconferencing. Some hospitals in Reno postponed elective surgeries for at least two weeks, to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Hospitals in southern Nevada also began delaying non-essential surgeries.
, largely empty during the pandemic
On March 17, 2020, Sisolak ordered all non-essential businesses closed for 30 days, starting on March 18, in order to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. The statewide closure affected 440 casinos, as well as 1,977 businesses that operated small casinos with 15 slot machines or less, such as supermarkets, restaurants and convenience stores. It marked the first time that casinos on the Las Vegas Strip had been shut down since the state funeral of John F. Kennedy in 1963. More than 40 emergency food distribution sites were set up around the Las Vegas Valley to help unemployed people affected by the closures, and many casino companies donated un-used food from their resorts. Schools throughout the state began providing free student meals for pick-up. Casino companies also donated personal protective equipment and hand sanitizer to Las Vegas hospitals and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.
Goodman opposed the length of Sisolak's shutdown order and instead called for a closure of 8 to 10 days, saying that Las Vegas could not survive beyond that. Grocery stores, hardware stores, pharmacies, banks, and gas stations were among businesses considered essential. Police, fire, and healthcare services continued as well. Restaurants were closed for dine-in patrons but were allowed to provide drive-thru, takeout, and delivery services. Construction sites were also allowed to continue operations, as Sisolak said they provided much-needed employment during the pandemic. Guidelines were issued for construction sites, stating that workers' health be checked daily and that they stay six feet apart, and that meetings be kept to no more than 10 people. Clark County closed nearly all of its government buildings to the public for the next two and a half months.
On March 20, 2020, Carson-Tahoe Health, based in Carson City, announced that all non-emergency surgeries at its facilities would be postponed until at least April 20.
On March 22, 2020, Sisolak named Jim Murren to lead the state's COVID-19 Response, Relief & Recovery Task Force. Sisolak also said that the state did not currently have enough ventilators to fight the virus. At the time, Nevada had 718 ventilators, 32% of which were already in use.
On March 23, 2020, UNLV Medicine in Las Vegas had a soft opening for its drive-thru COVID-19 testing site. After testing hospital staff and first responders on its opening day, the site opened to the public the following day. Testing was done by appointment only, and the facility saw high demand from residents seeking a test.
On March 24, 2020, Sisolak prohibited stockpiling of the anti-malarial drugs chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine, both of which were being studied as possible treatments for coronavirus. He also banned gatherings of 10 people or more, in an effort to further prevent the spread of coronavirus.
On March 26, 2020, Clark County and two cities within it – Las Vegas and Henderson – started allowing restaurants to sell alcohol through a temporary permit. The permit only applied to restaurants with bars, and was only valid for patrons who placed food orders for curbside pick-up.
On March 27, 2020, Humboldt County reported its first case. Simultaneously, the Nevada Occupational Safety and Health Administration sent out guideline reminders to construction sites across the state, after finding that many sites were not enforcing social distancing among workers. A construction worker at Allegiant Stadium had already tested positive for coronavirus, and another construction worker, at Circa Resort & Casino, later tested positive as well. Multiple construction workers at Resorts World Las Vegas also tested positive.
On March 28, 2020, Las Vegas and Clark County opened a temporary homeless shelter in the parking lot of Cashman Field, after another shelter closed temporarily due to a COVID-19 case. The parking lot was originally laid out with carpeting, which was removed the following day over concerns that it could not be disinfected. Instead, white boxes were painted on the parking lot surface, indicating where homeless people would sleep while maintaining social distancing of six feet. The parking lot sleeping arrangement caused controversy as to why the homeless could not be sheltered elsewhere, such as the closed hotel resorts in the city. Clark County negotiated to put the homeless in hotels, but such a deal did not work out. A Las Vegas city official also noted that the city does not own any hotels, and that none of them were staffed anyway due to the coronavirus-related closures. The actual Cashman Field facility had already been reserved as potential space for hospital overflow patients.
On March 29, 2020, Sisolak announced a 90-day moratorium on evictions and foreclosures for commercial and residential tenants, saying, "This is not the time to put people out on the streets. This is also not the time to evict small business owners who have been hit by the economic fallout of this pandemic." At the time, an analysis found that Las Vegas was at risk for its acute care beds being overwhelmed by coronavirus patients. On the same day, White Pine County received its first case of coronavirus, while Washoe County reported its first death: a man in his 40s who had recently traveled to New York City and was hospitalized on March 23. It was the first coronavirus death to occur in northern Nevada.
On March 31, Sisolak requested U.S. president Donald Trump to declare a major disaster in Nevada, giving the state greater access to federal resources. Simultaneously, construction was suspended at MSG Sphere at The Venetian, due to a disruption in the project's supply chain as a result of the pandemic.
April 2020
On April 1, 2020, Sisolak extended the closure of schools and non-essential businesses through the end of the month, in accordance with new federal guidelines issued by the White House Coronavirus Task Force. Sisolak also issued a statewide directive urging residents to stay home, except for essential reasons such as healthcare visits and buying food. In addition, Sisolak activated the Nevada National Guard to help deliver medical supplies.On April 4, 2020, Sisolak announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency approved a major disaster declaration for Nevada. On the same day, Las Vegas gave closed liquor stores a chance to compete against grocery stores by allowing home delivery of alcohol within city limits. Two alcohol retailers, Lee's Discount Liquor and Total Wine & More, began offering delivery service.
On April 6, 2020, Sisolak called 106 National Guard members to service, and Tonopah, Nevada reported its first coronavirus case. Sisolak said the state had received 3,000 reagent kits and 4,000 test swabs from the federal government. Although he appreciated the testing items, he said they "are not nearly the volume necessary for us to perform the desired amount of testing that we want and our citizens want." A newly released study found that Nevada's economy was the second most vulnerable in the United States, as 17 percent of its GDP relied on tourism.
On April 7, 2020, Sisolak announced that California would loan 50 ventilators to Nevada through May 1. At the time, southern Nevada was experiencing the highest percentage of usage for hospital beds and ventilators, compared to the rural communities of northern Nevada. Simultaneously, Humboldt County in northern Nevada had 14 cases, the second-most per capita of any county in Nevada, with less than 17,000 residents. The county's health officer said that there were many residents who were not taking the coronavirus seriously. Meanwhile, Clark County approved temporary alcohol deliveries, allowing the service in unincorporated parts of the county. Henderson also approved delivery of alcohol to residents within its city limits.
On April 8, 2020, Sisolak ordered the closure of real estate open houses, golf courses, and basketball and tennis courts. He also restricted religious gatherings of 10 people or more.
As of April 10, 2020, seven rural counties had yet to report any cases: Churchill, Esmeralda, Eureka, Lander, Lincoln, Mineral, and Pershing.
On April 13, 2020, Humboldt County reported its first death: a man in his 40s. Meanwhile, the Cashman Field parking lot reopened as a tented isolation and quarantine complex to treat overflow hospital patients and homeless people infected with coronavirus. The complex cost $6 million.
On April 14, 2020, Sisolak announced that an additional 700 members of the National Guard would join the coronavirus efforts. Most of them would be stationed in Las Vegas, where they would set up alternate care facilities, help with food banks, and provide medical support. Clark County also announced a backup plan to convert the Las Vegas Convention Center into a low-level hospital for 900 patients, in the event that actual hospitals become overwhelmed by patients with the coronavirus. Meanwhile, the Southern Nevada Health District published two maps of Clark County – organized by city and by zip code – to demonstrate how COVID-19 was affecting different areas of the county.
On April 15, 2020, UNLV Medicine announced plans to work with the National Guard to expand its testing operation, increasing from 150 to 300 tests per day. More than 3,000 residents of southern Nevada had been tested up to that time. On the same day, Goodman called Sisolak's shutdown "total insanity" and urged him to reopen the state. President Trump, who owns Trump International Hotel Las Vegas, said he was fine with Sisolak's shutdown order, while acknowledging Goodman's dissatisfaction with it: "I know the mayor is very upset with it. Some owners are very upset with it. Some of the developers out there are upset. Others say, 'Hey, we have to get rid of it.' I can see both sides of that." Goodman and the Nevada Republican Party wanted Sisolak to present a plan for reopening the state.
On April 18, 2020, protests took place in Las Vegas and Carson City, urging Sisolak to reopen the state. At least 500 people participated in the Las Vegas event, which consisted of a vehicle caravan led by a group called Reopen Nevada. The group protested against Sisolak for "his failure to follow President Trump's call to enact a plan to reopen the country, specifically Nevada." The Carson City protest had approximately 200 people participating on foot, while dozens of others protested from their vehicles.
On April 20, 2020, the Pahrump Justice Court and the Fifth Judicial District Court were closed for at least 10 and 14 days respectively, after a court employee tested positive for coronavirus.
On April 21, 2020, Sisolak said that Nevada was in a "phase zero" of plans for reopening the state and easing social distancing. He said that schools would remain closed through the spring, while businesses would not reopen until the state experienced a 14-day decline in new coronavirus cases and hospitalizations. Other conditions needed for the phase-one reopening would be additional COVID-19 testing and the use of contact tracing. Sisolak was unable to provide a date for when phase one could be implemented. Meanwhile, University Medical Center in Las Vegas announced plans to substantially increase its coronavirus testing efforts in the near future.
In an interview on April 23, 2020, Goodman again said the closure should be ended. Goodman also said that she had previously suggested the idea of Las Vegas becoming a control group to test the effectiveness of social distancing. Goodman's interview sparked wide criticism over her idea, which had been rejected. Sisolak said, "We are clearly not ready to open. I will not allow the citizens of Nevada, our Nevadans, to be used as a control group, as a placebo, whatever she wants to call it." U.S. Representative Dina Titus, from Nevada's 1st congressional district, also criticized Goodman's idea and warned against opening up too soon, saying that Goodman should listen to scientists and healthcare specialists and "stop talking about my constituents as though they're guinea pigs in some grand experiment that she's trying to conduct." Geoconda Arguello Kline, the secretary-treasurer of the Culinary Workers Union, criticized Goodman's comments as "outrageous" and said, "We want people back to work, but it has to be safe and secure and we don't want workers to be part of an experiment."
On April 24, 2020, conservative radio host Wayne Allyn Root organized a vehicle caravan through Las Vegas to protest Sisolak's closure of businesses. Approximately 980 vehicles participated in the protest. Further protests took place in Las Vegas and Reno on the following day. The Las Vegas protest was attended by approximately 400 people, and was organized by Fight for Nevada, a group that advocates for conservative beliefs and the recall of Sisolak as governor. The Reno protest garnered approximately 250 people, most of them supporters of Trump's presidency.
On April 27, 2020, Sisolak announced that Nevada had joined the Western States Pact, a group of neighboring states working together on how to proceed with reopening. Sisolak said, "Millions of visitors from our fellow Western states travel to Nevada every year as a premier tourism destination, and this partnership will be vital to our immediate recovery and long-term economic comeback."
On April 28, 2020, Sisolak announced that medical and dental procedures, postponed because of the coronavirus, would be able to resume soon, with special conditions in place to help protect patients from the virus. Sisolak said that further announcements would be made later in the week regarding the reopening of the state. Sisolak said that this "next phase in the battle against COVID-19" would be "federally supported, state managed, & locally executed."
On April 29, 2020, Sisolak extended his stay-at-home order until May 15. He said that coronavirus cases and deaths had leveled out, although he did not expect to reopen casinos until phase three or four, neither of which had a firm date set. Sisolak also signed a directive that would ease some coronavirus-related restrictions beginning on May 1, 2020. Retailers and marijuana dispensaries would be allowed to offer curbside pick-up, while churches could offer drive-in services. Golf courses, as well as tennis and pickleball courts, would also be allowed to reopen. Up to that time, several rural counties had urged Sisolak to quickly reopen the state's economy, particularly in areas that had low populations with fewer cases of coronavirus. Sisolak's directive advised Nevada residents to wear facial coverings while in public. Sisolak also issued a 90-day extension on expiration dates related to driver's licenses and other DMV documents. Meanwhile, the Eureka County Commission voted to end work-at-home measures for its county employees, sending them back to work in public offices while following safety precautions such as social distancing. In southern Nevada, plans were being finalized to start widespread testing.
On April 30, 2020, Sisolak expressed his hope to have the state move into phase one by May 15, 2020. Casinos would not be included in the phase-one reopening, and Sisolak said that the Nevada Gaming Control Board would be responsible for decisions about when such businesses could reopen. Bars, concert venues, malls, nightclubs, and large sporting events would remain closed as well during phase one. Stand-alone retailers would be allowed to reopen in phase one, with employees and customers having to wear facial coverings. Sisolak said that county governments would be responsible for deciding when to let their communities reopen, saying that "responsible county governments, with knowledge of their unique communities and their existing local licensing and regulatory structure, are in the best position to execute the gradual reopening of the businesses and public life of their local residents." Gatherings of 10 people or more remained prohibited.
At the time of the announcement, Sisolak had a 64-percent approval rating for his handling of the pandemic, while Goodman had a 28-percent rating. Meanwhile, a company called Unacast looked at data from each state and ranked them based on how well they were practicing social distancing. Nevada was ranked at number one, with a "B+" grade. Data from the Nevada Hospital Association, for the month of April, showed that the state's hospitals were never in any danger of being overwhelmed by coronavirus patients, as social distancing diminished the virus' effect on the state population. An analysis showed that COVID-19 was responsible for more deaths in April 2020 than those caused by flu and pneumonia in the same month during 2018 and 2019.
May 2020
On May 1, 2020, Sisolak returned the 50 ventilators to California, saying that Nevada was no longer in need of new ventilators.On May 2, 2020, a group of people rallied outside the Nevada Governor's Mansion, protesting against Sisolak's stay-at-home order.
On May 4, 2020, elective surgeries resumed in the state.
On May 5, 2020, the parking garage at the Orleans hotel-casino was set up as a drive-thru COVID-19 testing site. It was the first such site in the Las Vegas Valley to offer tests regardless of whether or not people had any symptoms. The testing site was a joint effort between Clark County, the Nevada National Guard, and UMC.
On May 6, 2020, former professional poker player Doug Polk filed a notice of intent to start a recall effort against Goodman, following her controversial comments. Polk believed that Goodman "failed to responsibly represent her constituency" and demonstrated a "clear disregard" for public health. On the same day, the South Point resort in the Las Vegas Valley began offering drive-thru sports betting services, followed in subsequent days by other casinos in the state. At the time, an analysis of all 50 states found that Nevada was most likely to be hit hardest by the economic impact of the virus.
On May 7, 2020, Sisolak announced that restaurants, retailers, outdoor malls, hair salons, drive-in movie theaters, and cannabis retailers would be allowed to reopen two days later, but with precautions in place. Employees, for example, would be required to wear masks, while restaurants and retailers would be limited to 50 percent of their usual capacity. Also on May 7, the Nevada Gaming Commission gave unanimous and final approval to guidelines created by the Nevada Gaming Control Board, allowing casinos to eventually reopen with reduced occupancy and increased sanitation. Meanwhile, a group of business owners and others filed a lawsuit against Sisolak over his stay-at-home order and his restriction on hydroxychloroquine. The lawsuit, in part, accused Sisolak of abusing his power and violating constitutional rights with his business closures. Sisolak was the latest U.S. governor to be sued for closing businesses. The lawsuit also named Clark County Commissioner Marilyn Kirkpatrick and other state officials as defendants.
Roy Horn, a former Las Vegas entertainer and a longtime resident, died of complications caused by the virus on May 8, 2020, at the age of 75.
Phase one went into effect as scheduled on May 9, 2020. On the same day, Reopen Nevada held a Republican rally and protest in Las Vegas against Sisolak, over his pandemic orders and the slow pace of reopening the state.
On May 11, 2020, Sisolak declared a fiscal state of emergency due to COVID-19's impact on the economy. The declaration would allow the state to use money from a $400 million emergency fund. On the same day, the Nevada Department of Corrections reported that there had yet to be any cases among inmates. However, these results were considered questionable, as only 56 inmates had been tested out of nearly 12,500.
On May 12, 2020, a vehicle protest, organized by the Culinary union, took place down the Las Vegas Strip. The union protested for information from casino companies regarding their plans for reopening and for protecting workers and visitors. Hundreds of vehicles participated in the protest. At the time, several casino resorts on the Las Vegas Strip were planning to reopen within a month, with new safety measures in place to protect patrons from COVID-19. Meanwhile, a free drive-thru coronavirus testing site opened in the parking garage of the Aquarius resort in Laughlin, Nevada.
On May 13, 2020, the Southern Nevada Health District announced that of the 5,000-plus cases in Clark County, Hispanics accounted for 27 percent of the cases, becoming the hardest-hit ethnic group in the county. Hispanics make up 31 percent of the population in Clark County. Meanwhile, Station Casinos announced that all of its Las Vegas-area employees – approximately 14,000 – were in the process of being tested for coronavirus before they eventually return to work.
On May 14, 2020, It was announced that 10 free drive-thru testing sites would open at Wal-Mart stores across the state, including seven in Clark County and others in Reno and Elko. The new sites were part of the effort to increase testing across Nevada. In addition, the Nevada Gaming Control Board announced that restaurants inside casinos could reopen as part of phase one, on the condition that customers do not have to cross the casino floor to get to the restaurants and restrooms. Another condition, applying to large counties, would be to limit crowding among customers who are waiting to enter. Businesses in downtown Las Vegas were also allowed to extend retail sales and restaurant dining to sidewalks, effective immediately. On the same day, the city's McCarran International Airport became the first airport in the United States to install vending machines that dispense personal protective equipment.
On May 15, 2020, Sisolak said that reports of positive coronavirus cases continued to decrease. He also said that many Nevada residents were wearing facial masks, but that some businesses were not complying as required. Sisolak urged the public to wear masks, and said that businesses refusing to do the same would face punishment. Sisolak said, "Our goal is to continue reopening more of Nevada's economy in a safe and responsible manner. What we do now will determine what we can do next. That's why compliance is so extremely important." Sisolak also said that the idea to reopen casino restaurants was primarily meant to benefit small communities such as Ely – where dining options are limited – rather than places like Las Vegas. Sisolak was convinced to allow the reopening of such restaurants after rural communities urged him to do so.
On May 18, 2020, large retailers such as Kohl's and Macy's began reopening stores in the Las Vegas Valley, with various safety measures in place.
On May 19, 2020, the parking garage of the Fiesta Henderson hotel-casino was opened as a free drive-thru testing site. Testing sites in Nevada continued to increase as more test kits became available, and cases of coronavirus were expected to rise as more sites opened. Three counties – Esmeralda, Eureka, and Pershing – had yet to report any cases of coronavirus. Meanwhile, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department had responded to 1,100 businesses that remained open rather than complying with Sisolak's shutdown order. Owners of such businesses were warned of possible jail time and revocation of their business license.
On May 20, 2020, McCarran International Airport launched a public awareness campaign to inform travelers about staying safe from the coronavirus.
On May 21, 2020, UMC began coronavirus testing at the Las Vegas Convention Center for casino employees of Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, and MGM Resorts. The testing was a joint effort between the companies, the Culinary Workers Union, and UMC. The convention center was capable of testing up to 4,000 people a day, and the site was expected to stay open for at least 30 days.
On May 22, 2020, Sisolak announced that hotel-casinos in the state could possibly reopen on June 4, and that the second phase of the state's reopening could come sooner. The reopenings would only occur as long as reports of new COVID-19 cases did not dramatically increase during the upcoming Memorial Day weekend. Sisolak also said that he did not mandate the wearing of facial masks because he believed that no mandate would result in more residents doing so voluntarily: "I think it's a matter of people not wanting to be told what to do." He also noted that such a mandate had already been made by Ohio governor Mike DeWine, who had to rescind the mandate following outrage from residents there.
On May 25, 2020, the United States Department of Justice Civil Rights Division informed Sisolak that his 10-person ban on churches could be a violation of the Free Exercise Clause, stating that churches in Nevada were not being treated equal with other businesses such as restaurants, which were allowed to operate at 50-percent capacity rather than a 10-person limit. Eric Dreiband, the head of the government agency, said, "We understand these directives were issued in the midst of an uncertain situation, which may have required quick decisions based on changing information. We are concerned, however, that the flat prohibition against 10 or more persons gathering for in-person worship services — regardless of whether they maintain social distancing guidelines — impermissibly treats religious and nonreligious organizations unequally."
On May 26, 2020, Sisolak canceled an in-person press conference regarding phase two, after possible exposure to the coronavirus. Technical difficulties then prevented the release of a pre-recorded video announcement. Later that night, Sisolak instead issued a press release announcing that casinos would be allowed to reopen on June 4, while phase two would begin sooner, on May 29. Phase two would allow the reopening of bars, bowling alleys, gyms, movie theaters, pools, spas, state parks, and tattoo shops. The reopenings would require businesses to implement changes to help prevent the spread of coronavirus. Sisolak also increased public gathering limits from 10 to 50 people, and he announced that religious facilities could resume in-person services with reduced capacity and social distancing in place. In Las Vegas, casino companies planned to open only certain resorts, and with limited amenities. Ten hotels in the Las Vegas Valley agreed to accept guests from other hotel properties who have tested positive for coronavirus.
On May 27, 2020, the testing site at the Orleans hotel-casino was relocated to a parking garage at University of Nevada, Las Vegas. The Orleans site had tested 14,000 people during its operation, and the new drive-thru site at UNLV would allow walk-up visits as well as child testing. Sisolak also announced that he had tested negative for the virus after his potential exposure. Murren announced that the state's COVID-19 task force was in the process of purchasing PPE for each school district, as well as the general public. This would include 250,000 face masks. Meanwhile, the Nevada Gaming Control Board updated its safety guidelines for casinos to reopen, leaving owners scrambling to meet the new requirements in time for the June 4 reopening. Las Vegas casino owner Derek Stevens gave away 2,000 free flight tickets to the city to help its economy.
On May 28, 2020, UMC announced that it would now test all of its future patients for COVID-19, becoming the first hospital in Nevada to do so. UMC had the ability to perform 10,000 tests per day, the highest in the state.
Phase two went into effect as scheduled on May 29, 2020, with the possibility of entering phase three by June 30.
Questions remained unanswered regarding the impending reopening of casinos in Las Vegas. On the afternoon of May 29, the Culinary union held another vehicle protest on the Las Vegas Strip, demanding information on how casino companies planned to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and keep people safe. The union also wanted its health guidelines to be adopted by the Nevada Gaming Control Board as minimum requirements for casino operators. The union's protest was overshadowed by another protest held simultaneously on the Las Vegas Strip, organized by Black Lives Matter in response to the killing of George Floyd. In Nevada, further protests regarding George Floyd occurred at the end of May 2020, resulting in riots, as well as clashes between protestors and authorities. It was believed that the protests could have a negative impact on the reopening of casinos in Las Vegas due to the resulting civil unrest, something that would not attract tourists. Prior to that point, the reopening of casinos showed a pent-up demand, leading some casino companies to expand the number of properties that would reopen on the Las Vegas Strip on June 4. In response to the protests, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority cancelled an advertising campaign that would have promoted the reopening of casinos.
June 2020
On June 1, 2020, Sisolak announced plans to significantly increase contact tracing in the state. The effort would include the hiring of 250 workers, as well as a contract with Deloitte and Salesforce. Deloitte would hire and train the workers, who would use a system that was created by Salesforce and would be modified by Deloitte for contact tracing. Meanwhile, it was reported that hospitals in the state could suffer financially as a result of fewer patient visits during the pandemic.On June 3, 2020, the Fremont Street Experience in Las Vegas reopened.
Select casinos reopened as scheduled on June 4, 2020, after a closure of 78 days. Various safety measures were put in place at casinos. Employees were required to wear masks, and guests were encouraged to do so too. Free masks were offered to guests. Guests' temperatures were taken at casino entrances, and those with a fever would be checked again in 15 minutes to ensure whether the initial temperature-check was accurate. Those with a confirmed fever would be moved to a temporary holding area for health questioning and would not be allowed to enter the rest of the casino. In Las Vegas, those who tested positive for coronavirus would be moved to one of the 10 hotels in the area that accepted such guests. Seating was limited at table games, and in some casinos, plexiglass shields were installed on gaming tables and at hotel lobbies. Hand-washing stations were set up on the casino floor in some resorts, and every other slot machine was inactive in order to promote social distancing. QR codes allowed guests to get on a wait-list for casino restaurants and bars. Such codes were also used to provide restaurant menus on guests' cell phones. Las Vegas casino resorts offered discounted rooms and various promotions to attract guests. Some properties also suspended their resort and parking fees. Las Vegas casino companies reported a strong demand, more so than previously expected. Self-serve restaurants such as buffets – a loss leader for casinos – remained closed as they had yet to receive approval from the state to reopen.
On June 11, 2020, as a result of financial problems caused by the coronavirus, Sisolak proposed changes to the state budget, which included the furlough of all state employees for one day each month beginning in July. He also announced that salary increases would be subject to a pause. These measures would ensure that less than 50 employees would be laid off. Nevada faced a $900 million deficit for the budget year ending June 30, and a $1.3 billion deficit for the next year. Sisolak also announced that Nevada counties and cities would split $148.5 million in grants, provided through the CARES Act. Meanwhile, the state had been experiencing an increase in new daily cases, but health officials did not yet believe that it was the beginning of a second wave, based on the initial data. One reason for the surge in cases was the significant increase in testing over the previous two weeks. The reopening of businesses also contributed to the rise.
On June 12, 2020, the Nevada Legislature approved Sisolak's proposed budget cuts, which totaled $116 million. Meanwhile, Clark County reported the state's first case of paediatric multisystem inflammatory syndrome, a disease in children that is caused by COVID-19. Prison testing had increased to 54 percent of all state inmates. In addition, 825 prison employees had also been tested. Seven inmates and 30 employees had tested positive up to that time, with no deaths resulting from the virus.
On June 15, 2020, Sisolak announced that the state was not yet ready to enter phase three of reopening, due to rising COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations. However, he said that the hospitalizations were not numerous enough to overwhelm the state's hospitals. He also said that positive cases had already been expected to rise as a result of the phase two reopening and the increase in testing. Sisolak said the state would continue to remain in phase two. On the same day, Nevada saw its highest daily increase of new COVID-19 cases: 379. Meanwhile, the state reopened its DMV facilities for the first time in three months.
On June 17, 2020, it was reported that many visitors to the Las Vegas Strip were not wearing face masks. Later that day, the Nevada Gaming Control Board ordered that players and spectators of table games must wear masks if the table does not have barriers installed. The Board cited declines in mask usage by patrons as justification for the change in policy.
On June 18, 2020, the American Hotel and Lodging Association reported that among U.S. states, Nevada would have the fourth lowest state and local tax revenue for 2020, losing an estimated $1.1 billion. Up to that point, the state had received more than 600 COVID-19-related business complaints since the phase one reopening. The complaints included non-essential businesses operating when they were not supposed to, and businesses that were not enforcing safety precautions.
On June 19, 2020, as cases continued to rise, it was announced that Sisolak had asked his COVID-19 advisory team to review enhanced policies regarding face masks for the public.
On June 22, 2020, the Culinary union stated that gaming properties needed to implement more COVID-19 safety measures to protect workers. Among the desired changes would be a requirement that all casino guests and workers wear masks. The union said it would take legal action if safety was not improved.
On June 23, 2020, the Clark County School District unveiled plans for reopening its schools in August. Students would attend school for two days each week, and would use online learning for the other three days. The plan would divide students of each school into two groups, with one group attending school Mondays and Tuesdays, while the other group would attend on Thursdays and Fridays. Each class would contain a maximum of 18 students. Children would have the option to stay home and continue using online learning exclusively.
On June 24, after experimenting with a promotion awarding $20 credits to rewards program members spotted wearing face masks, Caesars Entertainment announced that patrons of its casinos nationwide would be required to wear masks. Governor Sisolak would follow suit later in the day, ordering that face coverings must be worn in all public spaces effective June 26. The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority will promote the new requirement as part of its ongoing "#VegasSmart" public service campaign. Mask exemptions were allowed for children under the age of 10, and people with certain medical conditions. Businesses were required to enforce mask-wearing among customers. In Las Vegas, it was reported that most people were following the mask mandate.
On June 25, 2020, Sisolak announced that the moratorium on evictions would gradually be lifted. Owners of commercial space could begin evictions again on July 1, 2020, while certain residential evictions could resume a month later. Eureka County announced its first COVID-19 case.
On June 29, 2020, Sisolak extended phase two through the end of July. In Las Vegas, the Culinary Workers Union and the Bartenders Union filed a lawsuit against the Signature condominiums, the Bellagio resort, and a restaurant at the Linq Promenade. The lawsuit requested that the businesses adopt better coronavirus safety standards, alleging that workers were not being adequately protected under current conditions. Meanwhile, a political action committee called No Mask Nevada was formed to oppose Sisolak's mask mandate. The group subsequently held protests against the mandate.
Positive cases of COVID-19 continued to rise through the end of the month, with indoor venues presenting the biggest risk. Nevada had the highest estimated transmission rate of any U.S. state, with each COVID-19 case resulting in 1.56 new infections.
July 2020
On July 1, 2020, the state announced further plans to combat the virus, including increased enforcement of safety measures and hotlines for people to report business violations. Meanwhile, plans to recall Mayor Goodman were ended as the effort failed to garner any signatures. The recall effort was hampered by the rise in COVID-19 cases and the fact that in-person signatures are required.On July 2, 2020, OSHA stated that approximately 80 percent of Nevada businesses were in compliance with the mask mandate. Compliance was higher in northern Nevada compared to the Las Vegas Valley.
On July 3, 2020, Sisolak expressed his disappointment after a new OSHA survey found that only 49 percent of Nevada businesses were in compliance with the mask mandate.
On July 8, 2020, health officials announced the results of an antibody study conducted in the Reno-Sparks area during June. The study found that COVID-19 testing was largely undercounting the actual number of positive cases, concluding that four to five times more people had likely been infected. The Global Gaming Expo announced the cancellation of its 2020 convention in Las Vegas, due to the pandemic and travel restrictions caused by it.
On July 9, 2020, Sisolak announced that bars in Clark and Washoe County would have to close again on the following day due to the surge in new coronavirus cases. On the day of the bar closings, five other counties were added: Elko, Humboldt, Lander, Lyon, and Nye.
By July 10, 2020, employees at multiple Las Vegas resorts were concerned that safety precautions were not being properly exercised. Workers were also upset that casino companies withheld the number of employees who tested positive for coronavirus, although they are not required to provide such information to their workers.
On July 12, 2020, 37 bars in Clark County filed a lawsuit against Sisolak's shutdown order regarding such establishments. The suit alleged that bars were being treated differently than other non-essential businesses, and stated that bars were largely in compliance with safety procedures.
On July 13, 2020, Nevada-based Boyd Gaming announced that it would permanently lay off at least 25 percent of its workforce because of the economic effects of the pandemic.
On July 14, 2020, OSHA reported that 80 percent of the state was in compliance with COVID-19 safety precautions. Meanwhile, health officials attributed recent case surges to gatherings that occurred during the recent Fourth of July holiday. An analysis of 150,000 Twitter messages found that Nevada was the second most-resistant state for mask-wearing, with Arizona in the top spot.
By July 16, 2020, Clark County had been included as a "red zone" in a report filed for the White House Coronavirus Task Force. It was included in the report because the state, along with 17 others, had reported 100 new cases per 100,000 people in the week prior. Another reason was because more than 10 percent of COVID-19 testing returned a positive result. The county began evaluating whether additional measures were necessary to deal with the virus.
On July 21, 2020, 28 new deaths were reported which was the most for the state in a day and may be a result of delayed reporting. Meanwhile, the Clark County School District approved an online-only start to the new school year, with the possibility of eventually resuming in-person learning.
Impact
Sports
On March 12, the National Hockey League suspended the season for an indefinite amount of time, affecting the Vegas Golden Knights. The NHL listed Las Vegas and T-Mobile Arena as a candidate to be one of two "hub cities" to centralize play of the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs, but ultimately lost to Edmonton and Toronto.The Pac-12 Conference halted its men's basketball tournament being held at T-Mobile Arena the same day.
The National Football League cancelled festivities in Las Vegas for the 2020 NFL Draft, conducting the entirety of the draft remotely. Las Vegas was re-awarded the 2022 draft.
In late-May 2020, the Nevada Athletic Commission approved the first combat sports events to be held in Las Vegas since the beginning of the pandemic, with UFC hosting the first event——on May 30, followed by UFC 250, both at UFC's Apex studios in Las Vegas, behind closed doors. It also approved two Top Rank-promoted boxing cards being broadcast by ESPN, with these and future events being hosted in a closed studio in an MGM Grand conference hall, with a protected "bubble" having been constructed to secure the boxers and essential staff.
Unemployment
On March 18, 2020, Sisolak announced that he had instructed the Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation to make it easier for people to receive unemployment benefits. Early the next month, Sisolak acknowledged residents' frustration with their inability to contact DETR. Thousands of unemployed people had difficulty getting into contact with the agency, due to the high number of phone calls being made to it. Sisolak said, "We do not have the structure in place, I can assure you of this, to process this kind of volume. This department has never received the funding that it should have received. You could never expect a surge in claims anything like what we're dealing with right now." On April 14, 2020, Sisolak stated that a complete revamp of the state's unemployment system would not be undertaken, saying it would temporarily prevent residents from filing and would be more harmful than beneficial. The following day, DETR opened a new call center to help deal with unemployment issues.As of April 26, 2020, approximately 350,000 Nevada residents had filed for unemployment benefits, setting a record that was twice as many as the number during the Great Recession. On May 8, 2020, DETR reported a record-high state unemployment rate of 22 percent, up from 4 percent in February 2020.
On May 12, 2020, two Reno women filed a lawsuit against DETR, which lacked a system that would allow self-employed residents to file for unemployment benefits under the CARES Act. Nevada was the only state in the United States that did not have such a system in place, although plans were already underway to implement one. Two days later, DETR announced that gig workers and independent contractors would be able to file for unemployment benefits beginning two days later. On May 16, 2020, DETR launched a website for gig workers to file for unemployment benefits, although people subsequently complained of error messages.
By May 28, 2020, unemployment had reached 28 percent, the worst for any state since the Bureau of Labor Statistics began tracking such data in 1976.
On the morning of June 1, 2020, a phone line went live for DETR that would allow gig workers to discuss issues in acquiring benefits. However, many people complained of busy lines and an inability to get in contact with DETR. In Las Vegas, a protest was held against DETR on the day of the phone line launch. In response, DETR stated that it was working to improve its system and that, "Nearly 500,000 Nevadans have filed for unemployment insurance since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to COVID-19, DETR received about 2,000 claims per week, and we are now receiving 2,000 per day." On June 12, 2020, people protested in Las Vegas again after still not receiving their unemployment benefits from the state. DETR stated that some unpaid claims were difficult cases to resolve due to disputes about employer separation. A week later, it was announced that the director of DETR would leave her position after receiving threats from upset people who had yet to receive unemployment benefits. A lawsuit was filed later that month, asking that a court order the state to pay unemployment benefits to individuals who had yet to receive them. DETR stated that such individuals were ineligible for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, part of the CARES Act, but the suit alleged that DETR was misinterpreting guidance from the United States Department of Labor regarding PUA.