It was just after 5 p.m. Wednesday in Texas when I got a text message from a friend. It was a link to a tweet by CNBC.
“JUST IN,” it said. “Caesars announces new mandate requiring everyone indoors at its properties to wear masks at all times except when eating or drinking, effective immediately.”
I was on the tarmac of Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport aboard a connecting flight to Washington, D.C., returning from having just spent four days in Las Vegas at Caesars Palace.
I thought to myself, “I got out just in time.”
The whole reason for going to Vegas in the first place was to feel some sense of normalcy that was lost with the spread of the coronavirus. D.C., where I live, is still largely on lockdown, so going somewhere that was in every sense of the word freer was what I wanted.
The decision by Caesars came in response to a new mandate by Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak that anyone in public wear a mask, though that wasn’t to go into effect until the end of the week.
Until Wednesday, the mask thing was almost completely voluntary in stores, casinos, hotels, and restaurants, other than for staff, who were required to wear one while working. It was merely “encouraged” for customers and guests, but even in places where it was “required,” there was little enforcement if any at all.
At a restaurant, they might ask you to wear a mask from the entrance to your seat and when you needed to get up to use the restroom. But if you didn’t, no one said anything.
The only place where masks wearing was fully enforced was at the gambling tables. A social distance measure was also taken by limiting gamblers to four per table.
And at the tables, it can be very strict.
While playing roulette, I had ordered a drink, and when it came, I removed my mask. But when I hadn’t placed it back over my mouth and nose about 10 seconds following a sip, a pit boss told me I’d need to. I said, “But I’m drinking something.” He said, “Take a sip, and then place it back.”
Outside of the tables, it looked like maybe half of the people in Caesars and elsewhere were choosing not to wear their masks at all. And among those who were wearing them, it was infrequent. I stopped wearing it altogether unless I was at a table gambling, though I did my best to take elevators by myself and to remain the suggested 6 feet away from others.
It was nice for the mask to be a choice, but seeing a lot of elderly people, many themselves not wearing masks, did cause me concern. The casinos are big places but also very busy places, and transmission most easily occurs between people who are close together inside.
For now, the mask is a good idea, and it should be required in places such as hotels and casinos. Sisolak, with support from casinos, made the right choice.
If you go, wear a mask and good luck.
