All Nevada casinos are set to close for 30 days in order to contain the spread of coronavirus.
Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak made the order on Tuesday night,Deadline reports. Also, all non-essential businesses have been mandated to close beginning noon on Wednesday, including all gyms, beauty salons, barbershops, malls, bars, and restaurants that don’t have takeout and delivery services.
Nevada employment heavily depends on the casinos in Las Vegas and Reno, so this is quite the blow. While some casinos decided to close prior to Sisolak’s order, the remaining closures are expected to hit the state’s economy hard.
During a press conference on Tuesday, Sisolak said that hotels and casinos will have time to clear out guests before shuttering. Gaming machines will have to be unloaded and turned off, too. “My ultimate goal here is to come together as Nevadans to save lives,” Sisolak said. “That requires aggressive strategies aimed at limiting community spread.” He continued, “We don’t have time to waste. We must act aggressively and decisively to protect ourselves, our families and our communities.”
Sisolak sounded urgent during the presser, and even brought up Kevin Durant, who recently tested positive for coronavirus.
Gas stations, grocery stores, airports, banks, hospitals, the post office, and other vital businesses will not close. Professional offices for doctors and lawyers will also stay open if they take safety measures.
“All gatherings should be postponed or canceled,” he said. “This is not the time for playdates, sleepovers, concerts, theater outings or athletic events. This is not a vacation and it’s not a time to catch up with friends. It’s definitely not a time to go to the movies. Every social contact increases your risk of exposure.”
