With coronavirus cases surging, Las Vegas bars won't be opening for at least two weeks
LAS VEGAS – Las Vegans and tourists will have to wait at least two weeks to revisit their favorite watering holes.
Nevada’s COVID-19 task force on Thursday voted to keep bars in Clark County, where Las Vegas is located, closed with limits on how many people can eat together at restaurants.
"This is the population base for the state, this is the largest number of people, this is the economic backbone of the state," said task force chairman Caleb Cage. "This is an extremely important decision – and one that I think we need to take very cautiously."
The task force wants to work with officials to enhance plans to increase compliance and enforcement to stem the spread of COVID-19, Cage said.
The task force also rejected Washoe County's bar reopening plan after a spirited debate over whether bars would prove a safer drinking environment for thirsty residents.
County officials on Wednesday disclosed a record number of calls about party houses over the past couple of months, including two at one house where more than 100 people gathered in the past three weeks. They said reopening bars in the county that houses Reno would provide an opportunity for people to “get together to socialize in a regulated and controlled environment.”
Bars were closed statewide in March and remained shuttered for 48 days before being allowed to reopen June 30. Gov. Steve Sisolak ordered bars in and around Las Vegas and Reno closed again on July 27 after coronavirus cases soared in those areas.
The Las Vegas area surpassed 1,000 total COVID-19 deaths for the first time as Nevada reported 38 more fatalities from the virus on Thursday — the third straight day that COVID deaths saw a large spike in the state’s daily numbers.
Sisolak turned over authority for reopening the businesses to his COVID-19 task force last Friday and said he would allow his existing closure order to expire at midnight on Thursday. Bars that don’t serve food will be allowed to reopen at 50% occupancy if all employees wear face coverings and customers sit six feet apart.
Casinos, still the lifeblood of Nevada’s economy, have remained open throughout the virus’ latest swell in the Silver State.
Contributing: Jason Hidalgo, James Dehaven, Reno Gazette Journal, The Associated Press.
Ed Komenda writes about Las Vegas for the Reno Gazette Journal and USA Today Network. Do you care about democracy? Then support local journalism by subscribing to the Reno Gazette Journal right here.
This article originally appeared on Reno Gazette Journal: COVID-19: Las Vegas bars won't be opening for at least two weeks
