FLOODS of tourists poured into Las Vegas over the weekend ignoring social distancing rules inside the city's casinos and gathering in crowds on the Strip.
Thousands of guests were seen standing shoulder-to-shoulder on Saturday night just two days before capacity restrictions increase to 50%.
According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, crowds walked the Strip sidewalks with "every other person or so wearing a mask over their nose and mouth".
One woman wearing her mask around her neck was told by two employees of The Cosmopolitan bar to put her mask on her face to which she obeyed, the outlet reported.
Lines for "walk-up boozer counters" and an In-N-Out burger took up most of the streets with the air smelling of cigarettes and weed.
Yolando Hagwood, a 54-year-old tourist from Orange County, was visiting Las Vegas for the first time since 2019.
"I think most businesses are trying to adhere and still let people have a good time," Hagwood told the outlet through his two masks.
"You can't tackle people. You're gonna see people with no masks.
"You're gonna see people not social distancing. But you just try to do your part."
Commenting on the large crowds, another tourist told 3LV News: "It feels good, some type of normal."
"It's really awesome to see it like this and Vegas vibrantly alive again," said another.
From today capacity restrictions in Las Vegas casinos will increase from 35 to 50 percent.
Casinos had operated at a limited capacity of 25% from November to February 15 when they were allowed to increase it to 35%.
The increase today includes arcades, food and beverage establishments, racetracks, gyms, pool halls, and theme parks.
According to Gov. Steve Sisolak, Nevada's "Roadmap to Recovery" plan remains on schedule.
In the executive order, Sisolak noted that the "14-day moving average test positivity rate has steadily declined, but is still over the 5% threshold recommended by the WHO for reopening."
It comes as the state sees 222 new coronavirus cases on Sunday with one reported death.
The pandemic cause serious strain for businesses and casinos in Sin City.
Last August the Sun reported that Frank Fertitta III, CEO of Station's parent company, Red Rock Resorts, said the company was unsure if the Texas Station, Fiesta Henderson, Fiesta Rancho and the off-Strip Palms will open its doors again.
"We don't know if – or when – we're going to reopen any of the closed properties," he said.
"We think it’s too early to make that decision at this time."
The company closed 20 properties in Nevada for nearly three months following Governor Steve Sisolak's shutdown order.
Red Rock Resorts reported net a second-quarter revenue of $108.5million, which is a 77.5 percent drop from the $482.9million from the same quarter last year.
The company's net loss was $118.4million – in comparison to the 2019 second quarter loss of $7.1million.
Red Rock's Las Vegas properties recorded a $356.7million year over year drop.
Meanwhile in New Orleans, covid restrictions were also relaxed bringing crowds back to the streets.
On Saturday night, people were spotted dancing as performers played in the middle of busy streets.
Coronavirus cases across the US have flattened with an average of 53,000 new cases reported last week and 1,350 deaths.
So far more than 69million Americans have gotten at least one dose of the vaccine with 37.4million being fully vaccinated.
Health experts have estimated that at least 70% of the population would have to be vaccinated in order to reach herd immunity – the current total being roughly at 11.3%.
Source: Read Full Article
