LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — After the Fourth of July celebrations and recent spikes in coronavirus cases along with an uptick in hospitalizations, many are feeling fear and uncertainty as to the possibility of rolling back Nevada's reopening plans.
The Venetian Las Vegas and the Golden Gate hotel-casino downtown were rumored to be scaling back operations in the coming weeks. However, both have denied such reports on their social media accounts.
Still, many are wondering how real is the threat of closing again.
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Medical and financial experts say that a second economic shutdown could be even more of a challenge to overcome than the first time.
"This is a very tricky topic because many people who are business owners, who maybe have 30 customers a day, don't think they're the source of this new wave, many of us think it is the crowds," Dr. Daliah Wachs said.
If Nevada would enter another shutdown, Dr. Wachs considers that enforcing it may be difficult, especially after so many have done their part by wearing masks and practicing social distancing, while others are still refusing to do so.
"I don't think you're going to have a lot of people on board or who financially can. We only have a fraction of casinos open, so our efforts to try to limit crowds might also be futile because people want to live. People can't be on lockdown for three months," Wachs said.
Economically, a second shutdown could also add more stress to thousands of families trying to survive the pandemic.
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Some locals have suggested closing the casinos instead of small businesses.
But financial advisor Steve Budin says the suddenly 270,000 out-of-work Strip employees would then probably not be out spending money at those businesses.
"They will be laid-off, and they won't be able to spend money. The whole system can domino negatively. So, it is important for these businesses to stay open but also to keep the public safe. It s a very fine balance and as you can see, we're losing in that battle at this point," Budin said.
Before the Fourth of July holiday, Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak and other leaders were urging responsible behavior from everyone with the overall rise in coronavirus cases.
