Health officials from popular tourist destinations like Los Angeles and Las Vegas are asking people to mask themselves indoors.
The Southern Nevada Health District, according to a statement Friday, recommends that people wear masks in crowded indoor public places – including casinos in Las Vegas – regardless of vaccination status.
On Thursday, Los Angeles County announced it would reinstate an indoor masking policy in response to a surge in COVID-19 cases. Other counties in California followed on Friday with mask recommendations.
The mask guidelines are intended to help contain the spread of COVID-19 and the highly contagious Delta variant, which has increased in daily cases in some regions.
Mask requirement: Los Angeles County requires masks indoors regardless of COVID-19 vaccination status
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The Southern Nevada Health District said, “Correct use of masks has been shown to be effective in preventing people from getting and spreading COVID-19.”
Eight areas in California – Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, and Sonoma counties, and the city of Berkeley – recommended that both vaccinated and unvaccinated people wear masks indoors in public spaces on Friday.
The guide is a precautionary measure for the fully vaccinated and is intended to “provide a simple check to ensure that all unvaccinated individuals are masked in these environments,” a joint statement said.
The daily number of COVID-19 cases has increased in Nevada and California over the past few weeks.
California reported 4,651 new cases – 5.4 per 100,000 people – on Friday, according to the state’s website. Approximately 52% of people in the state are fully vaccinated.
Daily falls in southern Nevada – where the Delta variant is the dominant strain – returned to levels not seen since February. More than half of the state’s eligible population are not fully vaccinated.
Clark County – home of the Las Vegas Strip – accounts for nearly 78% of the state’s COVID-19 cases and has the highest incidence rate.
The story goes on
New mask recommendations are intended to help curb the spread of the delta variant, which has led to an increase in daily cases in various regions.
Brian Labus, an epidemiologist at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, said the Southern Nevada Department of Health is trying to combat the spread of the highly communicable Delta variant.
“Our numbers are going in the wrong direction,” said Labus. “Our recommendations need to change to reflect what the virus is doing.”
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What does this mean for travelers?
Visitors should not heed the advice of the Nevada health authorities.
“Unfortunately, we don’t see very many people in public wearing masks (in Las Vegas),” said Labus. “People kind of declined this guide and just don’t wear masks, and I don’t know how strong this recommendation will be.” Really change that. “
The Nevada Gaming Control Board has the power to re-impose mask requirements on Las Vegas casinos but no changes made until Friday. The board declined to comment.
Labus said health officials must weigh the political and economic consequences before reimposing restrictions or masking requirements.
Las Vegas Sands, which operates the Venetian on the Strip, said vaccinated and unvaccinated employees must wear face masks when working in indoor public areas, but the resort does not require masks among guests.
MGM Resorts International, which operates the Bellagio and other resorts on the Strip, is “closely” monitoring the situation but did not change its masking policy on Friday, according to spokesman Brian Ahern. MGM and Sands plan to post signs at public entrances sharing the new masking recommendation.
Dr. Hana Hakim, an associate member of St. Jude’s Infectious Diseases Division, said it was not clear whether more face Masking guidelines are implemented. This will depend on vaccination rates and other data on the prevalence of breakthrough infections or COVID-19 cases in fully vaccinated people, she said.
“Understanding the impact of the delta variant on vaccine effectiveness will be critical in deciding whether to implement re-masking,” Hakim said via email. “At the moment the critical message would be ‘vaccinate’.”
Casino advisor Debi Nutton said she didn’t expect the recommendation to stem the pent-up travel demand that has benefited Las Vegas.
“Right now the trip to Las Vegas is high,” she said. “I think our guests feel good. … I don’t know if that will have a big impact. “
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Contributors: Ed Komenda, Reno Gazette-Journal
This article originally appeared in the US TODAY: COVID Mask Instructions: Los Angeles, Nevada asks people to mask themselves indoors
