Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

Sisolak considering ‘enhanced’ face mask policies

Gov. Sisolak Covid-19 Presser

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Gov. Steve Sisolak gets emotional during a Phase 1 reopening update news conference, Friday, May 15, 2020.

Gov. Steve Sisolak has asked his medical advisory team to provide recommendations regarding “enhanced” face mask policies as the number of coronavirus cases in Nevada has spiked in recent days.

Sisolak’s announcement comes a day after Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced masks would be required in most public settings statewide.

“Nevada Health Response has repeatedly urged the use of face coverings when out in public as one of the strongest methods of mitigating the spread of COVID-19, and directives I've signed mandate the use of face coverings by employees who interact with the public,” Sisolak said on Twitter.

For now, people are encouraged to wear masks in public, but there are no blanket statewide requirements.

Employees are required to wear masks at their jobs, per the state’s reopening requirements, and Nevada gaming regulators announced Thursday that casino patrons must wear masks at table games that do not have barriers in place.

Thursday, the two-week mark since casinos reopened in Nevada, saw the biggest spike in daily new cases — 410. Symptoms of COVID-19 take two to 14 days to appear.

The Southern Nevada Health District issued a statement Monday imploring businesses to require their patrons to wear masks, saying they have a “moral obligation” to protect the community.