New mask rules for casinos, hotels, groceries

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention eased mask-wearing guidance last week for fully vaccinated people, allowing them to stop wearing face coverings outdoors in crowds and in most indoor locations unless otherwise prohibited. It became effective immediately in Nevada.

Businesses in the state may still require masks for customers and employees, if they so choose.

The new recommendations still call for masks in crowded indoor settings including buses, planes, hospitals, prisons and homeless shelters, but they are expected to help clear the way for reopening workplaces, schools and other venues.

Here are updated mask policies in some Las Vegas area casinos and other businesses.

CCSD & area colleges

UNLV announced Thursday that face masks are now optional on campus for those who are fully vaccinated.

In a letter to the campus community, UNLV President Keith Whitfield and Executive Vice President/Provost Chris Heavey wrote said the Nevada System of Higher Education has adopted guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention “permitting people who are fully vaccinated to stop wearing masks in most environments.”

NSHE has noy yet released an announcement about the change

Last week, the NSHE and Touro University Nevada said that they would retain their mask mandates.

The Clark County School District is not planning to drop policies requiring mask-wearing on campuses and in offices.

The CCSD said in a statement that it is sticking with its policy mandating face masks for all students and adults, but indicated it may revisit the issue next week.

“At this time, out of an abundance of caution, we must ensure that masks continue to be worn to protect our students and staff,” the statement said. “Additional information and direction will be provided next week based on any updates to local mitigation and guidance.”

Caesars

Caesars Entertainment Inc. announced Friday it won’t require fully vaccinated guests or employees to wear masks while visiting its Nevada properties. Guests or employees who haven’t been vaccinated must still wear a mask.

Caesars operates multiple Las Vegas properties including Flamingo, Bally’s, Caesars Palace, Rio, Paris Las Vegas, Planet Hollywood, The Linq Hotel, Harrah’s Las Vegas and The Cromwell.

Circa, The D

Due to updates from the CDC, masks are no longer required for fully vaccinated guests/team members on our property, Circa and the The D said in identical Tweets on Friday. Unvaccinated guests/team members are required to wear a mask.

It added that 100 percent occupancy was approved by the Nevada Gaming Control board, with no social distancing required.

Cosmopolitan

Fully vaccinated guests and employees at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas can now forego masking.

The Strip property’s new masking policy went into effect on May 13. Guests and employees not considered to be fully vaccinated by standards set by the CDC will be required to wear face coverings “until further notice,” according to a statement.

Employees who remain unvaccinated will be required to wear a company-issued mask while on property and undergo weekly COVID-19 tests.

MGM

MGM Resorts International no longer requires vaccinated guests or employees to wear masks.

Its Las Vegas properties include Bellagio, Aria, Vdara, Excalibur, Luxor, Mandalay Bay, MGM Grand, The Mirage, New York-New York and Park MGM.

Company spokesman Brian Ahern the properties will not ask guests for proof of their vaccination status. Employees will need to verify their vaccination status with the company in order to forego masks at work.

Sands

Las Vegas Sands Corp. is updating its masking policies.

The company, which operates The Venetian, Palazzo and the Sands Expo & Convention Center, will not require fully vaccinated guests to wear masks “in most areas” of the property, according to a Friday statement.

The new policy went into effect at 2 p.m. May 14. At this time, employees are still required to wear company-issued face masks.

Treasure Island

Employees and guests at Treasure Island will not be required to wear a mask, as of May 14.

Those not fully vaccinated at the Phil Ruffin-owned Strip property will be required to wear a mask at all times while at the property unless actively eating or drinking in an authorized area, according to a statement from the company.

Wynn Resorts

Wynn Resorts — which owns Wynn Las Vegas and Encore — revealed May 13 that fully vaccinated guests and employees will not be required to wear masks.

“We trust our guests to take the appropriate precautions based on their personal vaccination status,” a company statement reads.

Albertsons

Albertsons, which also owns Vons, said it will still require masks, said company spokeswoman Nancy Keane.

CVS

Effective May 17, CVS Pharmacy customers who are fully vaccinated are no longer required to wear face coverings inside of its stores, unless it is mandated by state or local regulations. Customers not fully vaccinated are asked to continue wearing face coverings. Employees are required to mask up while at work.

Costco

Costco also dropped its mask policy at clubs where state rules allowed starting May 14. That includes Nevada.

Smith’s

National grocery store chain Kroger announced on May 19 that it was changing its policy regarding masks.

Starting May 20, workers and customers who are vaccinated can stop wearing masks in states where mandates are no longer in effect.

The Cincinnati-based company operates some 2,760 stores nationwide, including Kroger owns Smith’s, Ralphs, Dillons, Fry’s and King Soopers.

Walmart

Walmart, the world’s largest retailer, said May 14 that it won’t require vaccinated shoppers or workers to wear a mask in its U.S. stores, unless state or local laws say otherwise. Those include Walmart and Sam’s Club locations.

Vaccinated shoppers can go maskless immediately, the company said. Vaccinated workers can stop wearing them on May 18. As an incentive, Walmart said it is offering workers $75 if they prove they’ve been vaccinated.

Walmart said it won’t ask shoppers if they’ve been vaccinated. Workers, however, will need to tell the company if they’ve been vaccinated in order to go maskless.

Trader Joe’s

Trader Joe’s updated its mask policy on May 14 and said fully vaccinated customers won’t be required to wear masks.

Target

According to the company’s website, “Target no longer requires fully vaccinated guests and team members to wear face coverings in our stores, except where it’s required by local ordinances.” Face coverings are “strongly recommended” for guests and staff who are not fully vaccinated, and social distancing measures will remain in place.

Planet Fitness

The gym said in an email that is was adopting CDC and state of Nevada guidelines. Anybody fully vaccinated does not need to wear a mask at the gym.

EoS Fitness

EoS Fitness will no longer enforce mask wearing inside its Nevada gyms.

“At EoS, we support our Members’ right to exercise their choice of wearing or not wearing a mask in the gym, based on vaccination status and comfortability level,” according to a Sunday email from the company. “(We) highly encourage those that still want to wear a mask to continue to do so.”

Customers who are not vaccinated should continue to wear a mask, according to the email. The gyms will still follow 6 feet of physical distancing, leaving every other piece of cardio equipment available and limiting group fitness class sizes.

Life Time Fitness

An email from the Green Valley location of Life Time Fitness said masks are no longer are required in the club for those who are fully vaccinated. “For individuals who are not fully vaccinated, however, we strongly encourage that masks continue to be worn,” a gym spokesman said.

The Review-Journal is owned by the family of Sheldon Adelson, the late CEO and chairman of Las Vegas Sands Corp.

— The Associated Press contributed to this report.