Coronavirus / COVID-19 Information

Well, lots of things just happened.

Nevada schools are closing after much resistance. And CDC says no gatherings with more than 50 people.

Next thing I know, the press releases start dropping.

Wynn/Encore are closing for two weeks, starting Tuesday March 17.

MGM Resorts followed shortly. They are closing casinos on Monday and hotels on Tuesday March 17th. No new reservations until May 1.

For now Sands says Venetian and Palazzo will stay open, but I'm skeptical that will last for long.

I would be prepared for CET to hop onto this soon. They just cancelled all shows for March and delayed some residencies.

Other hotels will follow suit. Some will hold out for longer. But if I had a trip coming up in the next 2-3 weeks, I'd go ahead and assume you will have to cancel. I will try to keep you updated as things break, but I won't be here 24/7, so some patience is appreciated.

 

Quick update from my phone

Nevada Gov. Sisolak just had a press conference. He said a bunch of stuff for locals and then addressed casinos.

He says he supports any decision casino properties make about temporary closures. Also mentioned some casino guidelines:

No more than three chairs at table games

Gaming floor must be in compliance with latest social gathering distancing. (Should we assume this is the 6' rule?)

 

Someone I asked didnt know, but wondered if it was the CDC limit of 50 people or less per "public gathering".

Found it!!

“I’m asking local governments to enforce a new provision of fifty percent or less capacity of any gathering space presently allowed by the fire department,” Sisolak announced. “Fewer people in a room with a larger distance between them is the only way to decrease the risk of spread.”

Also:
Casinos that stay open must clean and sanitize gaming machines at least every two hours. No more than three chairs will be allowed at table games and fifty percent occupancy requirements will be in force on casino floors and other resort areas.

Additionally, only buffets staffed by servers may remain open.

https://www.nevadacurrent.com/2020/03/15/sisolak-imposes-social-distancing-in-casinos-we-dont-know-what-were-dealing-with/

 

Another day of chaos in Las Vegas, as casinos begin to close, and others try to decide what to do.

One big rumor I haven't seen here, but I've seen on social media. Please be aware that the National Guard has not been called out in Vegas to help with closures.

Per Las Vegas Locally on Twitter, this quote from a source:

"As of this moment, the Nevada National Guard has not been requested for assistance in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. Thanks." -Emerson Marcus, Second lieutenant, NVANG, Nevada Guard Joint Force Headquarters


Stations Casinos put out an announcement that they are staying open for now. They are doing the social distancing (every other machine on, limit to number of chairs at tables/bars and restaurants), decreasing restaurant capacity by 50%, providing staff to serve at buffets. They are reducing hours/days at the Red Rock and Green Valley Ranch spas, but closing the spa at Palms.


Venetian Poker Room - Limiting to three players per table.


CET Properties - They announced that they are staying open... for now, admitting they are checking with authorities and getting new information every day. They are closing all shows through March, but casinos and hotels are still open. They announced cleaning procedures, including rooms where people were sick, and social distancing.


Westgate - A spokesman from Westgate says: "At this time, Westgate Las Vegas is open. We are continuing to closely monitor the situation and will follow all CDC and WHO guidelines moving forward."


A Gaming Official tells the Las Vegas Sun that casinos can make up their own minds about closing - https://m.lasvegassun.com/news/2020/mar/16/nevada-casinos-will-decide-closures-on-their-own-g/


CET has announced that they are closing all buffets through April. The are also reducing hours/days for the High Roller and Eiffel Tower.
You can find a webpage with specific property info on what is open and their hours here - https://www.caesars.com/corporate/coronavirus-guest-information/property-updates


In Virus news, The Southern Nevada Health District says: The risk of Clark County residents contracting the novel coronavirus is increasing to “moderate.” Nevada had its first Coronavirus death, and they are running short of testing supplies.

Also, Southern Nevada Health District: Says closing bars, restaurants and gyms is likely at some point, but is governor’s decision.

But meanwhile, Washoe County Health District, per Reno mayor: Asks to stop non-essential business in Reno-Sparks area including bars, restaurants and gyms.

 

Things are changing quickly today.

Yesterday, Reno announced they were closing all non-essential businesses, restaurants, bars and gyms. Then walked back that casinos are included in that.
https://www.nevadacurrent.com/blog/reno-to-shut-down-all-non-essential-businesses-to-combat-coronavirus/


Cosmopolitan announced that they are closing on Wednesday evening, and all eligible employees will be paid through the end of the month.



Forum Shops announced a change of hours to Monday - Saturday 11am - 7pm, and Sunday 12pm - 6pm


Le Thai downtown announced they are closing to dine-in customers. To-go orders only, and local delivery.


Stratosphere announced they are staying open for now... but stay tuned....


TI announced the same... but....


Here's an OpEd in Nevada Currents about why it's a difficult choice to close the casinos, but why we should.
https://www.nevadacurrent.com/2020/03/17/nevadda-isnt-closing-too-much-its-closing-too-little/


Venetian and Palazzo were going to stay open, and then they weren't. Adelson's company announceall full-time & steady extra employees their hourly rate + tip compliance for the next 30 daysd:
"According to a press release sent out Tuesday, the casino and hotel resort company is not considering any employee layoffs or furloughs, and will continue to pay employees while the resorts are closed and will not affect health insurance eligibility."
"We look forward to a productive dialogue on how to ensure that when it is safe, we can be in a position to open our doors and for the gaming industry and the nearly 2 million jobs that depend on us to be part of the economic recovery that is to come.”


Wynn also announced they are going to pay all full-time & steady extra employees their hourly rate + tip compliance for the next 30 days


MGM Resorts also announced that they are paying employees during this time:



Boyd employee says they are dropping employees down to 4 day workweek, but... stay tuned...


South Point announces it is closing for two weeks.


And then TI flip/flops and announces they are closing tomorrow.


Clark County announced the closing of all their buildings, and limited hours for the wedding licenses. https://twitter.com/ClarkCountyNV/status/1240038083837300737


Rumors started bouncing around late this afternoon that Governor Sisolak is calling casino owners and is preparing to close all casinos tonight and giving the hotels 48 hours to get the guests out.

And then the Nevada Gaming Control Board posted a document called "Procedures for Casino Closures". Looks like this is happening.
https://gaming.nv.gov/modules/showdocument.aspx?documentid=247


Nevada Independent seems confident this is a true story.
https://thenevadaindependent.com/article/sisolak-to-order-statewide-closure-of-non-essential-businesses-including-casinos-following-in-footsteps-of-other-states

The briefing is now at 6pm Pacific Time.


Stations Casino just posted this: https://www.stationcasinosinfo.com/

• Governor to announce statewide closing of casinos for 30 days.
• All Gaming to stop at midnight tonight.
• All non-Gaming operations to close tomorrow (Wed, Mar 18) at noon.
• All hotel operations to stop at 6pm, Thu March 19.

So it sounds like it is time for Vegas to take a little break for 30 days. I know none of us are happy about this, but it's probably a good decision. I'm hopeful that 30 days from now all things reopen and life gets back to normal, and we can all laugh about the overreaction. But meanwhile, if it's not overreaction, it's the right decision.

Sorry.


And, if you are feeling sad, here's a little bit of hope -

From @vegas on Twitter -

There’s one thing bigger than anything we do in Las Vegas: YOU. When it comes to your health and safety, #OnlyYou matter. We’re all in this together, and we will be ready and waiting for you.
https://twitter.com/Vegas/status/1239950878641131522

 

I'm happy that we've been able to open more threads for people to be able to share their feelings and plans about Vegas being shut down. There is still a problem with off topic posts, disinformation and thread drift. Please remember to stick to the topic of the thread.

We are still giving out warning points for people starting Coronavirus threads that are not specific to Vegas and informational. Unless it's new and relevant news for visitors to Las Vegas, better to save it for some other place.

One of the threads people seem to want to start is one speculating about when the casinos will open again. We're not going to do that quite yet. Right now Vegas is closed until mid-April. The Governor is due to re-evaluate in early April and we will know more then.

There is still a lot of news coming out of Las Vegas. Many casinos are offering employees or food banks the food in the kitchens. Lots of people are without jobs. Even more people aren't sure if they are going to get a paycheck after March. I'm going to try to focus on the stories that apply less to locals, and more to tourists like us. I will occasionally post something of more general interest for informational purposes.

So... news...

Cirque de Soleil - https://jezebel.com/in-the-time-it-takes-to-boil-instant-rice-cirque-du-so-1842415332

This story surprised me. Be prepared that we are going to have a slow re-opening of these shows, if they come back after the closure.


I thought some of you might want to read this article from the Nevada Current - Can Las Vegas Learn from Macau?
https://www.nevadacurrent.com/2020/03/20/can-las-vegas-learn-from-macaus-closure/


Governor Sisolak tightened up the closures of non-essential businesses today. Says he will impose civil penalties, including fines or license revocation, on non-essential businesses that refuse to shut down.
https://thenevadaindependent.com/article/sisolak-orders-all-non-essential-businesses-to-close-warns-of-criminal-penalties-for-noncompliance

And the text of the declaration:
https://nvhealthresponse.nv.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/2020-03-20.Declaration-of-Emergency-Directive-003.pdf



And a personal request. This is a tough time for everyone, including journalists. I think the Nevada Independent is doing outstanding work staying on top of a vast region in a rapidly changing world. They have provided tons of solid information for Nevadans and people who love Nevada. They are in a financial pinch and had to cut salaries for their reporters. They are hurting, but so far haven't had to do layoffs. If you have the means right now and benefit from their great journalism, please consider signing up for a monthly or one time donation to help them out. Even $1 a month makes a difference. Here's the link to their donation page: https://checkout.fundjournalism.org/memberform?org_id=nevadaindependent&campaign=7013i000000ca2IAAQ

 

Hope you all had a nice weekend of social distancing.

Some Nevada news:


Resort association: Nevada is ‘hardest hit’ from coronavirus financial fallout, could lose $39 billion in economic activity

https://thenevadaindependent.com/article/coronavirus-live-blog-week-two

And another on the same topic:

https://www.cdcgamingreports.com/nevada-analysis-gaming-recovery-from-pandemic-will-take-more-than-a-year-costing-39b/



Jim Murren has stepped down as CEO of MGM Resorts International. Shortly after that announcement, it was announced that Murren is going to head a Coronavirus Task Force for Nevada.

https://www.nevadacurrent.com/blog/sisolak-taps-mgm-ceo-to-run-response-relief-recovery-task-force/


And the SALT Conference has announced it is cancelling their conference for May 19-21.

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/salt-cancels-2020-las-vegas-conference-301028272.html

 

A little bit more Nevada News:


A TSA Agent has tested positive at McCarren.
https://www.reviewjournal.com/business/tourism/tsa-officer-from-mccarran-airport-tests-positive-for-coronavirus-1989384/

Not too surprising, but this little tidbit might be of interest to those of you still flying right now.

For those of you following the Blackstone/MGM financing news:
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-03-23/citi-led-group-stuck-with-billions-of-debt-as-mgm-offering-fails

In further sports related news, The Olympics has been postponed.
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/tokyo-2020-olympics-postponed-over-coronavirus-concerns-n1165046


The search for hospital and testing supplies has begun in Nevada.
https://www.nevadacurrent.com/2020/03/24/protective-equipment-already-stretched-for-nevada-hospital-workers-first-responders/

Wynn Executives exchange salary for stocks to help fund payroll.
https://www.cdcgamingreports.com/wynn-executives-exchange-salary-for-stock-in-to-help-fund-employee-payroll/

I wasn't sure if I should share this one or not. LVRJ did a profile of the first person to die of COVID-19 in Nevada. It can be a difficult read for some, so skip it if you think it won't be helpful.
https://www.reviewjournal.com/investigations/nevadas-first-coronavirus-death-it-hit-him-like-a-ton-of-bricks-1990035/

CET CEO, Tony Rodizio shared a video message to employees and rewards card members.


He talks about the closure and employees still working. They are extending benefits through June 30th and providing 2 weeks of pay and allowing access to paid time off (vacation) to bridge through the closure. They donated food, gloves, masks, hand sanitizers, and continue to look for donation opportunities.

No rewards credits will expire while the properties are closed. They are prepared to modify tier earning as needed, and are working on that as things change. They will refund all 7 Star Experience Credit Redemptions, and will extend the date to redeem the credits. They are working to reschedule offers. More information can be found at https://caesars.com/updates


LA Times has an interesting article, talking to a number of people whose jobs rely on the tourist industry in Vegas.
https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2020-03-24/coronavirus-las-vegas-nevada-economy-unemployment-casinos-hospitality

Have I mentioned what a great job the Nevada Independent is doing for Nevada? One of their reporters is working on a new project, despite pay cuts and difficult working conditions.

I'm so proud of the work they are doing. If you can afford a few bucks, please consider donating to them - Here's the link to their donation page: https://checkout.fundjournalism.org/memberform?org_id=nevadaindependent&campaign=7013i000000ca2IAAQ


Hang in there, everybody. Stay home as much as you can, because the sooner we slow this thing down, the sooner we can get a handle on it and hopefully return to some sense of normalcy. Stay healthy! Get rest. Turn off the news and take a break from it all.

Thanks for your continued support in keeping speculation and disinformation off of VMB. I know lots of you want to talk about when the casinos will re reopening, but we have absolutely no way to determine that. We need to wait for the Governor and his people to talk to medical experts and industry people to make that decision. I don't expect that to happen until April. They will let us know. I promise they want you back in Vegas as much, if not more, than you want to be there.

 

Let's do this again.

I continue to encourage people to look for reliable sources, not Twitter, blogs or talking heads on TV, to get your information. Anyway....


The Nevada Independent has a resource for people in Nevada who are looking for help, looking to volunteer and looking to donate. They are updating it regularly. If you wanted to give back and help out Nevada, there are a couple places you can send cash.

https://thenevadaindependent.com/article/resource-guide-where-to-find-food-cash-assistance-and-other-help-during-coronavirus-outbreak


The Attorney General issued a warning that scammers are going to come for your stimulus checks. Of course.
https://www.nevadacurrent.com/blog/beware-of-scammers-trying-to-hijack-your-stimulus-check-ag-warns/

CNBC article about Wynn's CEO talking about paying employees for 30 days to retain talent. I think a lot of you will agree with these quotes, if you're a fan of the service at Wynn.
https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/24/coronavirus-why-wynn-resorts-is-paying-employees-despite-closures.html

MGM Resorts sent out a press release announcing their charitable donations, including a $1 million crisis and disaster relief pledge into an employee emergency grant fund and donating the equivalent of 400,000 meals across the United States.
https://investors.mgmresorts.com/investors/news-releases/press-release-details/2020/MGM-Resorts-International-Pledges-1-Million-For-Employee-Emergency-Fund-And-Donates-Close-To-Half-A-Million-Pounds-Of-Food-Equivalent-To-400000-Meals-Across-The-US/default.aspx?prop_code=corp



Howard Stutz tweeted:

Sorry I didn't grab the url for the CDCNewswire article



This is kind of delightful and I may make a separate thread about it so everyone gets a chance to hear about it.
https://thenevadaindependent.com/article/nevada-interrupted-with-tourism-dried-up-neon-museum-finds-ways-to-connect-with-visitors-staying-at-home

For those of you needing a sports betting fix:
https://www.yogonet.com/international/noticias/2020/03/26/52742-nevada-regulators-approve-betting-on-esports-tournament
E-Sports Betting!

Also, if you've never heard of E-Sports and suddenly feel the need to bet on them: http://www.gamblersanonymous.org/ga/


MGM Resorts Acting CEO, Bill Hornbuckle posted a video message to employees on the state of the company:
https://www.mgmresorts.com/en/nevada.html


Some businesses are making lemonade. A Sparks distillery is making high-proof alcohol for hand sanitizer.
https://thenevadaindependent.com/article/nevada-interrupted-distillery-transitions-from-making-hard-liquor-to-hand-sanitizer-amid-shutdown

Tesla's Gigafactory in the Sparks/Reno area is going to lay off 75% of their workforce:
https://thenevadaindependent.com/article/coronavirus-live-blog-week-three

Penn National announced they are selling Tropicana LV, but will continue to operate it themselves.
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200327005526/en/



That's it for this week (I hope!). Everyone have a wonderful weekend. Get outside, but stay away from other people, as best you can. And wash your hands, you filthy animals!

 

Hope you had a nice weekend at home on your couch like I did. I just need some sort of memory cleaner for some of the things I saw watching Tiger King.

Here's the news:

FastCompany has an article about jobs lost as a result of the virus. The ten cities where workers in vulnerable industries make up the largest part of the workforce:

1. Paradise, Nevada
2. North Las Vegas, Nevada
3. Las Vegas, Nevada
4. Memphis, Tennessee
5. Henderson, Nevada
6. Newark, New Jersey
7. Laredo, Texas
8. New Orleans, Louisiana
9. Orlando, Florida
10. Santa Ana, California

Yikes!
https://www.fastcompany.com/90483261/economists-say-these-cities-will-be-hardest-hit-by-a-covid-19-recession



The NVIndy has an interesting OpEd. I tested positive for COVID-19.
https://thenevadaindependent.com/article/i-tested-positive-for-covid-19

Nevada Current has an article about the tracking of the virus through the country. One interesting part indicates that they suspect that maybe Nevada is a "melting pot" of different infections from around the country.
https://www.nevadacurrent.com/2020/03/30/nevada-may-be-a-coronavirus-melting-pot-scientist-hypothesizes/

For those of you booking your May trips, a little cold water from WaPo.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/paloma/daily-202/2020/03/30/daily-202-coronavirus-model-touted-by-white-house-assumes-social-distancing-will-stay-in-effect-through-may/5e8196e988e0fa101a75580d/

CDCGaming has an article about some of the avenues available to casinos to retain employees during the shut down.
https://www.cdcgamingreports.com/industry-leaders-hopeful-federal-aid-package-will-persuade-gaming-employee-retention/

Jim Murren and his task force are already getting busy.
https://thenevadaindependent.com/article/private-sector-covid-19-task-force-helmed-by-ex-mgm-ceo-raises-4-million-focusing-on-acquiring-medical-equipment

Nevada Current also has an article on the presser:
https://www.nevadacurrent.com/blog/murren-nevada-can-punch-above-its-weight-in-fight-for-covid-19-supplies/

Some VMBers are reporting that they are being contacted by their hosts about dates in Mid-May. I urge caution because we have no way of knowing when the closure will be lifted. Nevada passed 1000 cases today and so far shows no sign of slowing. As the President said the shutdowns should be extended to the end of April, I'm not that confident that Vegas will be open on May 1. We just have to wait and see when something is officially announced and then we can have all the discussions you want about when/where/how you are headed back.


That's it for now. Hang in there. We have no idea what we don't know yet, but scientists are making progress. We are still a little bit away from the peak of this thing and it could be ugly in certain areas. Just keep doing the best you can and hopefully we can start talking about travel plans again.

 

I hope you are getting a benefit from my little news dumps. Without replies, it kind of feels like the early days of this place where it was mostly me asking a question and then answering it myself a couple days later.


So, you may be aware that some casinos are accepting bookings for April 16th and on. Some are booking after May 1st. All of these are speculation and there is no guarantee Vegas will be open by then. But if you can cancel without a penalty and feel better having something on the calendar, check your offers.


http://parks.nv.gov/about/public-notices
The State Park system has closed Valley of Fire and Rye Patch State Parks, starting today and until further notice.

For those of you watching Tiger King on Netflix, you might be interested to know that Jeff Lowe is still wanted in Las Vegas.

https://www.ktnv.com/13-investigates/tiger-kings-jeff-lowe-still-a-wanted-man-in-las-vegas



Las Vegas Sands is donating 2 million masks and 20,000 protective suits to NY and Nevada.
https://thenevadaindependent.com/article/coronavirus-live-blog-week-four

Looks like The Madison Square Garden Company's Sphere construction is on hold.
https://www.fox5vegas.com/madison-square-garden-company-halting-construction-on-msg-sphere-in-las-vegas-due-to-covid/article_29f812ac-739c-11ea-a679-8703e9ed3740.html

And in other construction news, a second worker at Resorts World has tested positive for COVID-19.
https://www.8newsnow.com/news/second-worker-at-resorts-world-tests-positive-crews-scaled-back-by-a-third/

Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation says that they are projecting that COVID-19 is expected to peak in Nevada on April 22nd.
https://www.8newsnow.com/news/local-news/ihme-forecast-nevada-covid-19-pandemic-to-peak-on-april-15/

Governor Sisolak has issued a new travel advisory urging visitors to NV and returning Nevadans to self-quarantine and monitor their health for 14 days after arriving in or returning to Nevada.

https://www.nevadacurrent.com/blog/nevada-issues-travel-advisory/
https://thenevadaindependent.com/article/sisolak-issues-travel-advisory-urging-travelers-to-self-quarantine-nevadans-to-avoid-nonessential-travel


Stay safe! Be well! Take care of each other!

 

Doing an update just a bit early today. Not sure what this evening is going to be like. And I'm a little under the weather, on antibiotics AGAIN for this stupid sinus surgery recovery that never ends.

Here we go:

The NVIndy has put together an explainer piece on all the COVID-19 numbers and charts.
https://thenevadaindependent.com/article/coronavirus-contextualized-exploring-through-data-covid-19-in-nevada-and-beyond

They break down the numbers for Nevada, but also explain why one set of numbers may be a better indicator than others.

In case you missed this yesterday:

They are doing a great job. You will see a pop up and a thing on the right hand side of the page soliciting donations. They have someone who is willing to match $100,000 in donations, so if you can spare a few bucks, the process to donate is easy. Help our your favorite journalists. It's rough for them right now.



Daily Beast has a sobering piece about how this Stay at Home period may not be the only one we need to combat this virus.
https://www.thedailybeast.com/this-coronavirus-lockdown-may-just-be-the-first-of-several

And the big Nevada and Las Vegas news today is that Governor Sisolak has extended the shut-down through April. He also encouraged people to continue to stay at home as much as possible.
https://thenevadaindependent.com/article/sisolak-extends-covid-19-shutdown-until-end-of-april-urges-residents-to-shelter-in-place

https://www.ktnv.com/news/coronavirus/gov-sisolak-issues-stay-at-home-order-and-extends-closure

So, cancel those April Vegas trips and book further out if you need to. Stay home, if you can. Wash your hands. And take care of each other. These are difficult times for everyone.

 

Time for another news dump.

Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC) has been postponed from May to October.
https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/festivals/9348899/electric-daisy-carnival-las-vegas-postponed-october


Sheldon Adelson has an Op-Ed in the New York Post. "I'm paying all my workers for 2 months, and so should any business that can"
https://nypost.com/2020/04/01/adelson-im-paying-all-my-workers-for-2-months-so-should-any-business-that-can/

And Wynn announced they are paying their salaried, hourly and part-time employees through May 15, for a total of 60 days.
https://wynnresortslimited.gcs-web.com/news-releases/news-release-details/wynn-resorts-extends-benefits-all-north-american-employees?field_nir_news_date_value[min]=



NVIndy has an interview with Mark Pandori, the director of the Nevada State Public Health Lab located at the University of Nevada, Reno. They are making tests/test kits for Nevada, which should help increase the numbers of people they are able to test in Nevada.
https://thenevadaindependent.com/article/qa-with-the-director-of-the-state-public-health-lab-on-production-of-new-test-kits-private-and-public-labs



Las Vegas Weekly put out a list of places you can donate or volunteer to help in Las Vegas.
https://lasvegasweekly.com/news/2020/apr/02/how-you-can-help-ways-to-give-volunteer-and-donate/



Should the NBA finish the season in Las Vegas? Sports Illustrated says it's possible.
https://www.si.com/nba/2020/04/02/nba-exploring-las-vegas-for-playoffs-coronavirus

McCarran Airport shuts down two concourses due to low flight volume.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/airline-news/2020/04/02/coronavirus-travel-impact-las-vegas-airport-shuts-down-2-concourses/5112194002/

And last but not least, @Ty shared this interesting link for data nerds who want to poke around and see how your state/county are doing on the social distancing front.
https://www.unacast.com/covid19/social-distancing-scoreboard

 

Good morning, data nerds. @dmr shared this link for tracking testing across the US, or in individual states.
covidtracking.com/data/us-daily/



We have had some articles trickling out about how different casino companies are dealing with their employees during the shutdown. Looks like Wynn and Venetian/Palazzo are going to continue to pay employees for two months.

Caesars Entertainment has furloughed 90% of employees.
https://news3lv.com/news/local/caesars-entertainment-furloughs-90-of-us-employees-health-care-benefits-to-continue

MGM Resorts is also furloughing 60,000 employees.
https://thenevadaindependent.com/article/coronavirus-live-blog-week-four

Here is video of MGM acting CEO, Bill Hornbuckle, on CNBC talking about this:
https://thenevadaindependent.com/article/coronavirus-live-blog-week-four



Nevada Current addresses the issue, "Will COVID-19 Disappear When It Gets Warmer?"
https://www.nevadacurrent.com/2020/04/03/its-getting-warm-will-covid-19-miraculously-disappear/
The President said last month, “Looks like by April, you know, in theory, when it gets a little warmer, it miraculously goes away,” but does it?

The American Gaming Association has some concerns about the gaming industry being excluded from the SBA loan program that was recently implemented.
https://www.cdcgamingreports.com/aga-sba-forgivable-loan-guidelines-leave-out-small-gaming-companies/

Delta Airlines extended the ability to rebook coronavirus cancelled travel for up to two years.
https://news.delta.com/flexibility-times-change-delta-extends-ability-rebook-coronavirus-impacted-travel-2-years

Hospital personnel in Nevada have concerns about availability of masks and other PPE, like many other states.
https://thenevadaindependent.com/article/calm-before-the-storm-nevada-hospital-workers-grapple-with-mask-shortages-staying-safe-as-coronavirus-cases-grow

Riley Snyder (NVIndy) tweeted that Nevada's private-sector COVID-19 task force says its now raised $10 million since 3/27. Group has also released a list of donors, which includes lots of casino & sports groups (including the UFC, Raiders owner Mark Davis & Golden Knights owner Bill Foley)


More is available on their weekly blog: https://thenevadaindependent.com/article/coronavirus-live-blog-week-four

And for those of you angry at your neighbors for the lack of availability of toilet paper, here's a different perspective about why shelves are empty. I found it really interesting. I know my husband and I were joking early on that he'd need to go down to the local park to use their bathroom so we don't run out of TP. I guess we were't that far off. Until they closed the park bathrooms to encourage social distancing.
https://marker.medium.com/what-everyones-getting-wrong-about-the-toilet-paper-shortage-c812e1358fe0

That's it for now. Take care of yourselves, and each other. If you've got a square to spare, help out a neighbor.

 

Someone asked me to post some articles about how long this shut down could last. It's hard to say at this point, since we get a lot of conflicting information. We can look at other countries, or even Macau, but our situation is different.

Part of the reason why we are restricting speculations threads about opening dates and what conditions will be like is because there is no way to know at this point. Right now, most states are just trying to keep their hospitals from being overwhelmed as we start to approach peak numbers. Many states are expected to peak in the next week or two but some states that are still open, or just now shutting down, will peak much later, including into May and maybe June, depending on when they start.

I have already posted some articles earlier in this thread. I'll repost them here.

I thought some of you might want to read this article from the Nevada Current - Can Las Vegas Learn from Macau?
https://www.nevadacurrent.com/2020/03/20/can-las-vegas-learn-from-macaus-closure/



This WaPo article addresses the study cited by the White House to suggest social distancing through April.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/paloma/daily-202/2020/03/30/daily-202-coronavirus-model-touted-by-white-house-assumes-social-distancing-will-stay-in-effect-through-may/5e8196e988e0fa101a75580d/

The issues we are facing is that we didn't do a nationwide shut down, so all states are on a different trajectory and I would expect a tourist town like Las Vegas wouldn't want to open up for business again until all states are seeing a decline in their numbers, and a flattening of the curve. The other issue is addressed in that last quote. In the 1918 flu, there was a huge resurgence in Fall that killed many more people than the first wave.

Until we have a massive testing and tracking program set up in the US, it seems like opening up for business again is just going to push numbers up and send us back into another shut down. Some have speculated that we may see a series of openings and closings over time, until we can get treatment or a vaccine ready, possibly as long as 18 months. See more in this next article.



Daily Beast has a sobering piece about how this Stay at Home period may not be the only one we need to combat this virus.
https://www.thedailybeast.com/this-coronavirus-lockdown-may-just-be-the-first-of-several

In Toronto, Canada and some parts of Europe they are being told to expect up to 3 months of quarantine.
https://www.cp24.com/news/be-prepared-to-stay-inside-for-up-to-three-months-toronto-s-top-doctor-warns-1.4877425

Nevada Current addresses the issue, "Will COVID-19 Disappear When It Gets Warmer?"
https://www.nevadacurrent.com/2020/04/03/its-getting-warm-will-covid-19-miraculously-disappear/
The President said last month, “Looks like by April, you know, in theory, when it gets a little warmer, it miraculously goes away,” but does it?

And here are some newer articles I haven't posted yet on the subject:

Singapore may be seeing a "second wave" of infections.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/singapore-escalates-restrictions-as-it-faces-a-new-wave-of-infections-11585929290
(This is behind a paywall. Sorry! Try opening in an incognito window.)


This article is from Mid-March, but gives a good overview of why it's so hard to predict when the worst of this will be past us.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/16/health/coronavirus-shut-down.html

I hesitated to post this article because it's pretty critical of the way the President is handling the virus and probably pushes all the boundaries of our No Politics rule. But it has good information on this topic and why widespread testing and tracking is so important:
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-administration-s-lack-unified-coronavirus-strategy-will-cost-lives-n1175126

And this article specifically addresses Australia, but outlines the different approaches that can be taken and has some time frames included:
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/mar/21/the-case-for-shutting-down-almost-everything-and-restarting-when-coronavirus-is-gone

Endgame A: Flattening the Curve:

Endgame B: Trace and Track

Endgame C: Stop then Restart

So, that's the news from my notes about when. I hope you can all see that the simple answer is "There is no way of knowing." There are things we could be doing right now to speed up the process, but we aren't doing them as of yet. We need more testing to get a better idea of what the virus is doing and where. We need a test for antibodies to see who has already had the virus and recovered and then determine if those people are now immune from reinfection. We need a vaccine, but that is many months away. We need a treatment and they are doing some testing for that, but it may be some time until we get any results.

There are some rumors floating around that Vegas is thinking of a July re-opening. Is that based on anything I've seen other than those rumors? Nope. Sorry. I wish things were more certain and we could all start making reservations, but based on the projections from epidemiologists and other countries, I wouldn't expect the restrictions to lift at the end of April. Maybe not even the end of May. We just have no idea how long it's going to take for the majority of state to start bending that curve and slowing down the infection rate. And even then, we have less idea of what will happen when restrictions are lifted and people are allowed to travel and congregate again. It could result in a series of openings and re-implementation of restrictions.

I want to stay positive that there is an answer out there that we aren't seeing yet and that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Right now I don't see that light, but I want to think it's there.... and it's not an oncoming train.

Hang in there. This too shall pass. Hopefully we all remain healthy, if not very well groomed, and we can get our hair cut and meet up in Vegas again when things are safe for all of us.

 

And in other news:


Diamond Resorts offers free rooms to first responders:
(this includes Cancun Resort, Polo Towers, Polo Towers Villas, Desert Paradise, and Carriage House in Las Vegas)
https://www.fox5vegas.com/coronavirus/diamond-resorts-offers-free-rooms-for-las-vegas-first-responders-amid-covid-19-pandemic/article_0e364902-75c8-11ea-94e1-9f766d7d0d13.html

Caesars Entertainment sent out an email saying that they are relaxing the cancellation policy to allow same day cancellation (by 3pm) for reservations made after April 3rd.


Gwen Stefani tweeted about her residency in May:




Massachusetts Gaming Commission keeps casinos closed until at least May 4th.
https://www.nepr.net/post/mass-gaming-commission-keeps-casinos-shuttered-until-may-4#stream/0

Howard Stutz has an op-ed that some people here might need to read.
If you have to bet on "Tiger King", you have a gambling problem.
https://www.cdcgamingreports.com/commentaries/if-you-have-to-bet-on-tiger-king-you-have-a-gambling-problem/
It's mostly about the lengths sportsbooks are taking to have something to bet on. And a warning about offshore betting sites.

NVIndy has an interview with the guy who runs the Nevada Department of Recreation about what is a responsible way to get outdoor activities.
https://thenevadaindependent.com/article/what-is-responsible-outdoor-activity-during-the-covid-19-pandemic-a-qa-with-colin-robertson-director-of-the-states-outdoor-recreation-office

Although this article is about Nevada, it applies to all of our states.



And because Vegas gotta Vegas, Fox5 is reporting good news for liquor stores, including Lee's Discount Liquor.
https://www.fox5vegas.com/coronavirus/city-of-las-vegas-allowing-liquor-stores-to-deliver-alcohol-amid-covid-19-pandemic/article_7882dfac-768e-11ea-b650-1fc53656b736.html

And that's all I've got for now. I hope this information is helpful in keeping you up to date on what is happening in regards to the virus and how it is effecting Las Vegas and Nevada.

Until next time, get some booze delivered, pull out a deck of cards or some dice and pretend.

 

Hello my COVID cats and kittens. My phone tells me it is Monday, which is kind of like Wednesday and a little like Saturday at this point, except that I did laundry this weekend and have CLEAN pajama pants to choose from for my office attire today. *sigh*

But here we go with a little more news for you.

@MikeOPensacola shared a link where you can see the dates where the virus is expected to peak in your state. Let's keep doing our best to keep those numbers down and our friends and neighbors alive.
https://thehill.com/changing-america/well-being/prevention-cures/490856-when-will-coronaviruses-cases-peak-in-your-state



@ken2v shared a WaPo article about what to do about those packages and groceries you bring into your home. How worried should you be about getting COVID from an Amazon package or groceries?
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/03/26/dont-panic-about-shopping-getting-delivery-or-accepting-packages/

And here is the important part:

Nevada news!

The NV Indy has an interview with the Nevada State Public Health director. They are producing their own testing, and that is speeding up their ability to test more Nevadans.
https://thenevadaindependent.com/article/qa-with-the-director-of-the-state-public-health-lab-on-production-of-new-test-kits-private-and-public-labs

Delta has announced they are extending Medallion Status and Club Memberships to support SkyMiles Members.
https://news.delta.com/delta-extends-medallion-status-club-memberships-and-more-support-skymiles-members-future-travel

Should you now be wearing a mask when you go out in public?
https://thenevadaindependent.com/article/indy-explains-why-health-officials-now-say-you-should-be-wearing-a-mask

Analyst: Coronavirus casino closures, CEO change, have led to "investor confusion" around MGM Resorts
https://www.cdcgamingreports.com/analyst-coronavirus-casino-closures-ceo-change-have-caused-investor-confusion-with-mgm/

And some news some of you might not want to hear:

But don't worry, Mark Davis and his weird haircut say that Alegiant Stadium construction is proceeding on schedule.
https://clutchpoints.com/raiders-news-mark-davis-claims-allegiant-stadium-construction-remains-on-schedule/



Nevada Current has an informative piece on The Trouble with Antibody Testing:
https://www.nevadacurrent.com/2020/04/06/the-trouble-with-antibody-testing-for-covid-19/

Opinions are mixed:

And this one might be a repeat, but it's important information.
How long will social distancing last?
https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/danvergano/coronavirus-distancing-new-normal

Are you super bored at home? Because the LA Times has a Guide for that!
https://www.latimes.com/projects/guide-to-the-internet/



That's it for today. I hope you are all starting to settle into our new normal. I know it's hard. I'm a homebody and I'm feeling the cabin fever. But stay home, stay safe, and wash your hands!

 

Oops.. I didn't manage to get on to do this update yesterday, so here are a couple days of Nevada Coronavirus News.

Station Casinos and the Fertittas say they are donating $1 million to the Task Force Fund. Also,
https://www.fox5vegas.com/coronavirus/station-casinos-pledges-1m-toward-nevada-covid-19-task-force/article_ca5ef5a4-7823-11ea-ab1b-ef7ca6cc3ca6.html

In case you were worried about the Bond payments on the stadium construction, rest easy.
https://lvsportsbiz.com/2020/04/05/las-vegas-stadium-authority-has-sufficient-cash-flow-to-cover-bond-payments-with-expected-hotel-room-tax-revenue-decreases-for-march-april/

Also, those of you getting ready for the NFL to start the season:

April 6, Governor Sisolak announced the need for more PPE and testing and possibly more strict social distancing.
https://thenevadaindependent.com/article/more-ppe-tests-needed-to-combat-covid-19-state-may-need-stricter-enforcement-of-social-distancing

There are two main sources for this information the Governor is getting about when Nevada will reach its peak. You can see them at these two links

This one assumes quarantine through May 2020 - https://covid19.healthdata.org/united-states-of-america/nevada

This one compares lax and strict quarantine for 3 months - https://www.covidactnow.org/us/nv



Sportsbooks are Dark and Odds are Long in Las Vegas
https://www.cdcgamingreports.com/sportsbooks-are-dark-and-odds-are-long-in-las-vegas/

Penn National (WV) says it will be a long way back for casinos:
http://wvmetronews.com/2020/04/06/penn-national-gaming-exec-says-itll-be-a-long-way-back-for-casinos/

Another dark tale about how we might return to normalcy after this virus... or not.
There is No Plan for the End of The Coronavirus Crisis
https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2020/04/there-is-no-plan-for-the-end-of-the-coronavirus-crisis.html

This article is not kind to the White House Administration, but it does provide some good information on what is happening in Macau and what we can expect going forward in the US, and how no current Federal Plan for widespread testing and tracking is going to slow down our ability to lift restrictions.

Rep. Suzie Lee talks about Moody saying that Nevada will be among the hardest hit states.
https://www.nevadacurrent.com/2020/04/07/susie-lee-on-relief-efforts-were-putting-the-airplane-together-while-were-flying-it/

And here's the Moody's article:
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/coronavirus-states-hardest-financially-154119387.html



Oscar Goodman is Out as Las Vegas Tourism Ambassador
https://lasvegassun.com/news/2020/apr/06/oscar-goodman-out-as-agencys-tourism-ambassador/

Wynn Resorts is paying $3.5 mil per day to pay employees, seeks government assistance
https://www.cdcgamingreports.com/wynn-resorts-spending-3-5m-a-day-to-pay-employees-company-seeks-350m-in-financing/

Nevada Gaming Commission Chairman Tony Alamo to resign
https://www.8newsnow.com/news/local-news/nevada-gaming-commission-chairman-dr-tony-alamo-resigns/

Don't expect crowded gaming floors when casinos eventually reopen
https://www.cdcgamingreports.com/commentaries/open-for-business-dont-expect-busy-gaming-floors-when-the-casino-industry-restarts/

Ohio's Casinos/Racinos Revenue Down $112 million
https://www.cleveland.com/coronavirus/2020/04/with-bets-off-during-coronavirus-ohios-casino-racino-revenue-down-112-million.html

Tiger King "star" Jeff Lowe no longer has a bench warrant out for his arrest
https://www.fox5vegas.com/news/crime/las-vegas-court-date-for-tiger-kings-jeff-lowe-rescheduled-to-june/article_837e5906-7934-11ea-87fa-3bab08b61808.html

NV Indy has another great analysis of the data in Nevada.
https://thenevadaindependent.com/article/coronavirus-contextualized-2nd-edition-exploring-through-data-covid-19-in-nevada-and-beyond

And please donate a few bucks if you can. They are struggling to stay open and keep providing a paywall free way to get your Nevada News. VMB gave $100 and I'm hoping some of you might want to chip in some bankroll going unused right now.
https://checkout.fundjournalism.org/memberform?org_id=nevadaindependent&campaign=7013i000000ca2IAAQ



And interesting article on the dispensaries as they try to work on the "delivery only" policy right now.
https://thenevadaindependent.com/article/nevada-interrupted-budtenders-hit-the-road-as-legal-marijuana-goes-delivery-only

For those of you counting on a May 1st opening for Las Vegas, you might want to brace yourself. Broadway just announced it will stay closed through June 7th.
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/coronavirus-shutdown-extends-june-broadway-1288553

That's it for now. I know it's a confusing time right now and a lot of you are itching for a trip. I'm not sure if planning for the day after announced closures is going to help or hurt you more. Just be prepared for anything because, much like Jon Snow, we know nothing.

Meanwhile, take care of yourselves, and each other, wash your hands, and try to be kind. We're all struggling right now.