Prepare for Las Vegas as casinos flip to 100% capacity after …

As other states lift mask mandates, Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak plans to use Nevada's safety protocols as a selling point to bring conventions and trade shows back to Las Vegas. (March 8) AP Domestic

LAS VEGAS This tourism and entertainment capitol reach a new milestone this week, as major casinos along The Strip flipped to full capacity without social distancing.

But what does that mean for tourists planning trips here soon?

Here's what to know.

MGM Resorts

Wynn Resorts

Caesars Entertainment

Station Casinos

The Strat, CosmopolitanandSilvertonhave also opened gaming floors 100%.

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Depends where you are.

Social distancing is no longer required on the gaming floor, but those restrictions are still activeat restaurants, pools and other non-gaming areas and activities.

Yes.

In April, Gov. Steve Sisolak said he expects Nevadas pandemic-battered economy to be fully reopened by June 1, but he made clear the Silver States longstanding mask-wearing mandate will remain in place at least through the end of May.

Maskswould not simply disappear in counties that dont like it, he said.

This measure will remain in place to protect the health and safety of Nevadans and help get the state to a full reopening," Sisolak said.

No.

While gaming floors may return to 100% capacity, current 80 percent occupancy restrictions and three-feet social distancing policies remain in effectat restaurants, pools and other non-gaming areas and activities.

There were very fews masks on the Las Vegas Strip on Friday, March 13, 2020.(Photo: Ed Komenda / Reno Gazette Journal)

Based on workforce vaccination rates at Las Vegas' biggest properties, theNevada Gaming Control Board granted waivers toflip casino floors to full capacity.

Clark County lawmakers with jurisdiction over Las Vegas-area businesses approved plans to allow 100% occupancy at non-casino places once 60% of eligible county residents get a vaccine shot.

As of Wednesday, the figure was 47%.

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Yes.

State health officials on Wednesday reported 464 new cases of COVID-19 and six more deaths since Tuesday. The Department of Health and Human Services has reported almost 320,000 cases and 5,515 deaths since the pandemic began.

The 14-day test positivity rate a measure of the number of people tested for coronavirus and found positivewas 5.4% in Nevada and 5.5% in the Las Vegas area.

The World Health Organization goal is 5% or below to relax restrictions.

The Southern Nevada Health District administers Clark County, home to 2.3 million people including Las Vegas. The tourism destinationhas beenaddedto places in Nevada where authorities have detected cases of a potentially worrisome strain of the coronavirus found in India.

Government Scientist Kizzmekia Corbett is answering questions from the public about the COVID-19 vaccine. This as a new AP-NORC poll shows reluctance to get the vaccine has gone down in the last few months. (May 11) AP Domestic

A woman in her 20s who had not traveled recently and was not vaccinated against COVID-19 tested positive for a variant subtype officially known as B.1.617.2, the Southern Nevada Health District reported Tuesday.

The woman did not require hospital treatment, and an investigation aimed to identify people she came in contact with, the district said.

It reported other variants of COVID-19, too, including 242 cases of the B.1.1.7 strain identified in the United Kingdom, five cases of the B.1.351 South African strain, five cases of the California strain B.1.429 and 28 cases of the Brazilian strain, P.1.

COVID-19 vaccines currently used in the U.S. offer protection against most variants, officials say.

Contributing: Associated Press.

Ed Komenda writes about Las Vegas for the Reno Gazette Journal and USA Today Network. Do you care about democracy?Then support local journalism by subscribing to the Reno Gazette Journal right here.

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