Gov. Steve Sisolak Reduces Restaurant and Bar Capacity to 25 Percent to Prevent the Spread of COVID-19

Gov. Steve Sisolak issued a statewide roster of new restrictions to combat “wildfire levels” of new and existing coronavirus cases on Sunday, November 22, as he spoke from isolation in Carson City, Nevada, where he continues to recover from COVID-19.

Effective 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday, November 24, all restaurants and bars, both inside casinos and independent operators, will need to reduce occupancy from 50 percent to 25 percent for at least the next three weeks. The limit applies to both indoor and outdoor dining. Casinos also must reduce capacity to 25 percent, putting a strain on Vegas’s already slumping gaming industry.

In addition, restaurants and bars will only be able to welcome diners who have made a reservation. No walk-in customers will be permitted.

Citing “no perfect solution,” Sisolak mandated no more than four customers are permitted per table, and existing social distancing rules will continue. He strongly “implored” Nevadans to put their mask back on when not explicitly drinking or eating. Encouraging curbside, delivery, and takeout orders, he reiterated that restaurants and bars should continue to make hand sanitizer readily available and conduct health screenings and temperature checks.

All nightclubs and day clubs are still shuttered. Public gatherings will now be limited to 50 people, or 50 percent capacity, whichever is less. Sisolak also asked Nevadans to limit personal gatherings to 10 people from a maximum of two families, and to wear masks even in those settings, whether indoors or outside.

In March, the state shut down nonessential businesses like casinos, restaurants, and bar to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Restaurants could continue offering takeout and delivery options, and reopened in early May for dine-in service. Bars reopened in late May, only to see those that did not serve food forced to close again in July. In late September, bars reopened. Casinos reopened in June, with the last on the Strip, The Cromwell, returning in late October.

As of Friday, November 20, Nevada logged 129,714 cases, an increase of 1,839 new cases since last Thursday. Cases statewide continue to grow at 1,854 new cases per day over the seven days before November 20. The test positivity rate over the last 14 days since November 20 is 15.8 percent. Nevada’s COVID-19 hospitalizations remained flat with a total of 1,283 hospitalized patients.

Sisolak tested positive for COVID-19 on November 13 and continues to isolate at the governor’s mansion in Carson City. He reports only mild head congestion and completes his home isolation period early next week, “assuming all the criteria is met, including being asymptomatic for 24 hours following my 10 day isolation, per CDC guidelines.”

• Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak Tests Positive for COVID-19 [ELV]

• How Coronavirus Is Affecting Las Vegas Food and Restaurants [ELV]