Since covid became a thing, Las Vegas has come under more scrutiny than any travel destination other than Walt Disney. (DIS) – Get a free report theme park or cruise.
Sin City was blamed for an early spread, even though it quickly became clear that the virus would become a global problem.
The Las Vegas Strip faced enormous scrutiny and was the only resort town in the US to more or less shut down due to covid. Las Vegas officially closed in March 2020, with Caesars Entertainment (CZR) – Get a free reportMGM Resorts International (MGM) – Get a free reportWynn Resorts (WYNN) – Get a free reportand all other operators stopped.
Casinos reopened in June under strict mask and social distancing rules, with full normalcy not really returning until March 2021, a year later.
Caesars, MGM, Wynn and the rest of the Strip slowly rebuilt their businesses, but Covid and other respiratory illnesses broke out, filling hospital beds and making a visit to Las Vegas feel risky.
Now, for the first time in more than two years, after Las Vegas grappled with outbreaks of covid, respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, M-Pox, and even the candida auris superbug — Las Vegas has received very positive health news.
Illness and viruses have been a cloud over the Las Vegas Strip
Normal operations in Las Vegas require people to be in close proximity to one another. Socially distanced conventions made little sense, and major shows in 2022 such as CES operated in hybrid mode, with many people choosing to attend remotely.
The game, of course, also brings people closer. During the period of social distancing, that meant a lot of plexiglass and board games with limited players.
It was a bad environment for players and not a very good one for casino operators, who make a lot of money when crowds of mid-level players gamble, eat and spend at shows.
Covid, RSV and the flu cast a shadow over Las Vegas because visiting became a risk/reward calculus. Companies had to consider whether it was safe to send employees, while individuals had to consider whether it was worth the risk of bringing a virus home.
That didn’t ruin business on the Strip — Caesars, MGM and Wynn saw their business start to flirt with pre-pandemic numbers — but it kept some people at home and made even CES 2023 much smaller than the previous ones. pre-covid shows.
Las Vegas Strip Gets Healthier
Las Vegas and the Las Vegas Strip have finally received some great news when it comes to covid, RSV, flu and other respiratory illnesses that have pushed area hospitals to the brink at various times.
“Nevada continues to experience a rapid decline in the number of people requiring hospitalization for respiratory viruses, including COVID-19, influenza, and RSV,” the Nevada Hospital Association said Jan. 18, the Las Vegas Review Magazine informed.
Pediatric intensive care units have still been “stressed” but overall available capacity has been strong.
“New data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that all counties in Nevada are experiencing low levels of covid-19, as determined by the number of cases and hospitalizations. Clark County and several others counties in the state had been at medium levels in recent weeks,” the newspaper added.