Bars and taverns in Las Vegas can reopen again this Sunday, after being closed for more than two months during the COVID-19 pandemic. These drinking establishments can welcome patrons back just before midnight on Sunday, September 20.
Not only will standalone taverns be allowed to reopen, but the bars inside of the casino establishments can return to operation as well. Bars that serve food have already been up and running, but these businesses can now open up bar seating for their guests.
Governor Steve Sisolak shut down all non-essential business in the middle of March as the pandemic was hitting Nevada hard. Sisolak came up with a phased reopening plan that started towards the end of May, and some bars and taverns reopened.
As the state continued to see a high rate of positive COVID-19 cases, Governor Sisolak ordered all bars and taverns that don’t serve food to close again on July 10. Bar tops were also shut down, and that order has stood until this weekend.
Sisolak believed that bars and taverns served as places where the coronavirus could spread quickly as people gathered in one location. He has faced intense pressure from business owners over the last few weeks, and has finally decided to give in.
The Nevada coronavirus task force has issued a number of new health directives that must be followed by all of the businesses that wish to reopen. Social distancing and wearing of masks will be included as a part of this plan.
Raiders Home Opener Will Bring Crowds
Even though bars and taverns were disappointed that they missed out on Week 1 of the NFL season, Monday night should provide some huge crowds. The Las Vegas Raiders are set to take on the New Orleans Saints on Monday Night Football, and fans will likely flock to these establishments.
The Las Vegas Raiders recently completed a $2 billion new stadium project, but Allegiant Stadium will sit empty this season. The state of Nevada will not allow fans to attend any of the Raiders home games this season, but people will still likely gather somewhere to watch the games.
These bars and taverns will do their best to follow all of the new guidelines, but they will also be ready to accept a large number of patrons. Some of these businesses have been hit hard financially by the closures, and need to make up for lost revenue.
Wynn Resorts Hit Hard By COVID-19
Wynn Resorts is one of the biggest names in the gaming industry in Las Vegas, and that company has been largely affected by COVID-19. A spokesperson for Wynn Resorts announced earlier this week that 548 Wynn Resorts employees have tested positive for the virus.
Almost 500 of these cases have been reported since the casinos have reopened on June 4, and three employees have also died after contracting the virus. Wynn Resorts has implemented new health and safety protocols, but the virus has spread quickly between employees.
Wynn Resorts has been committed to being transparent throughout the pandemic, and it was one of the companies that was leading the call for strict policies to fight the disease. There have been over 15,000 tests conducted by the company since May, which means that the positivity rate is just 3.6 percent.
Wynn Resorts also announced that during the most recent round of testing, there was just one positive test out of 286. The infection rate is on the decline, just as it is throughout the state of Nevada.
