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Employees Of Las Vegas Strip Casino Must Get Vaccine

Wynn Resorts Announced That Its Las Vegas Employees Must Be Either Vaccinated Or Show A Negative COVID-19 Test Each Week To Continue To Work

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A Las Vegas Strip casino is going to force its employees to either receive a COVID-19 vaccine or submit a weekly negative test.

According to a local NBC affiliate, Wynn Resorts will require its employees at its two Las Vegas locations to submit to that policy. The company announced the employee mandate Thursday and said that about 60% of its employees have already been vaccinated.

The move comes just a few days after the Nevada Gaming Control Board released a memo at the beginning of April that said it would only consider allowing casinos to expand capacity beyond the current 50% unless properties were making “measurable and material” steps to get their employees vaccinated.

Gov. Steve Sisolak eased capacity restrictions in February, allowing casinos to operate at 35% in February and bumped the number to 50% in March. There has been no announcement on returning to full capacity, but according to Sisolak’s “Roadmap to Recovery,” he will give more control to local governments in May.

“Our primary goal is to create the safest possible environment at Wynn, for both employees and guests,” said Wynn Resorts CEO Matt Maddox in a statement. “Vaccination rates are increasing throughout the country, and requiring our employees to either be vaccinated or tested on a weekly basis will make Wynn one of the safest vacation destinations in the U.S.”

Las Vegas is starting to show signs of a recovery from the pandemic as there have been increased signs of tourism, but the key factor that would stimulate market to its pre-pandemic levels would be the return of large gatherings and conventions.

Last summer, Las Vegas Sands President Rob Goldstein said that without conventions, Sin City would become a “regional drive-in destination for California.”

MGM announced Wednesday that it would be bringing back conventions with in-room testing capabilities or proof of vaccination as part of their “Convene with Confidence” plan.