NEVADA (KTNV) — Gov. Steve Sisolak says the statewide mask mandate in Nevada has come to an end as COVID-19 cases drop.
Effective immediately, masks will no longer be required inside public places, including casinos, in most instances.
Where might masks still be required?
Masks are still mandated in airports, on planes on public buses and on school buses, Sisolak says.
He also clarified that while masks are no longer mandated on the state level, employers and organizations may still set their own policies around masks.
The Nevada Gaming Control Board sent a notice to casinos across the state that masks would no longer be mandated unless there is a local requirement.
Masks and protective equipment requirements in facilities serving vulnerable populations, such as hospitals, clinics and long-term care facilities, will be overseen at the direction of the Department of Health and Human Services, he says.
How this impacts Nevada schools
For schools, Sisolak says local districts can come up with their own policies and that takes effect tomorrow. He says he wants to give staff and students who are in class right now a chance to go home and discuss the issue with their families before removing their masks today.
RELATED: Masks no longer required at Clark County School District schools after today, district says
Shortly after his announcement, Clark County School district said that after the school day, masks will no longer be required on campuses.
On school buses, however, the district echoed the governor's message and said they are still required. Read the full statement from CCSD here.
The Nevada System of Higher Education says face coverings are no longer mandatory in the state's higher education institutions. 13 Action News has reached out to UNLV and CSN to see if their policies have changed and is waiting to hear back.
Health experts still recommend masks
“Just like vaccines, masks are still a great tool we have to slow the spread of the virus. I expect going forward to still see Nevadans and visitors occasionally utilizing masks when they are out in public,” said Sisolak.
“The State will no longer require masks in public places, but employers and organizations, including school districts, may set their own policies, and I encourage them to work with their employees and communities to ensure that policies are in place.”
WATCH THE FULL ANNOUNCEMENT HERE
Sisolak made the announcement during a virtual press conference on Thursday, where he thanked frontline workers for keeping the community safe.
He joins a growing list of Democratic governors who announced plans to lift mandates this week as cases drop nationally including in California, Delaware, Illinois, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island.
Nevada recorded our single highest day of new cases on Jan. 10 with 7,865 cases, he said. Now the state is averaging around 1,280 cases per day.
Meanwhile, the CDC recommends that everyone ages 2 and older should continue to wear a mask in indoor public settings.
The Southern Nevada Health District weighed in, saying that masks are an effective tool in protecting people and helping to minimize the spread. The agency continues to encourage people to wear masks and get vaccinated.
Read the Health District's full statement below.
In Clark County, COVID-19 cases and disease metrics continue to trend down. This is encouraging news for our community but disease transmission remains high, and the Southern Nevada Health District encourages people to continue to use all the tools they have available to protect themselves and others.
Everyone should get fully vaccinated, get a booster when eligible, and stay home when they are sick. While there is no longer a mask mandate in place, masks are proven to be effective at protecting people and lowering the risk of disease transmission. We encourage people to wear well-fitting masks in public indoor spaces for additional protection while disease transmission is high, especially if they are unvaccinated or more at-risk for severe illness from COVID-19.
More guidance is available from Nevada Health Response here and you can read the full directive here.
