Nevada Gov. Sisolak Rescinds Statewide Mask Mandate

LAS VEGAS, NV — Nevada is rescinding its statewide mask mandate effective immediately amid a decline in COVID-19 cases, Gov. Sisolak said at a news conference Thursday morning.

"Given all of these updates and the tools that we now have, now is the appropriate time for me to announce that Nevada will rescind our mask mandate, effective immediately," he said.

Masks will no longer be required in public places, he said.

"Let me be clear – the State will no longer require masks in public places, but employers and organizations, including school districts, may set their own policies, and I encourage them to work with their employees and communities to ensure that policies are in place," Sisolak said.

Masks will still be required at airports, on planes and on public buses and school buses. They'll also be required at places that serve vulnerable populations, such as hospitals, clinics and long-term care facilities.

However, teachers and schools no longer have to wear masks. School districts will work with local health authorities to implement plans in the event of an outbreak.

The state saw a "rapid decline" in case numbers, coupled with declining hospitalizations and a drop in COVID-19 detected in wastewater, the governor said. There's also broad availability for testing and treatments.

The mandate was implemented July 30 and required all counties in the state experiencing "substantial or high transmission levels" to follow masking guidelines. In these counties, everyone regardless of vaccination status had to wear a mask in public indoor settings. Counties could change mask mandates if they remained in "a low or moderate" transmission for at least two consecutive weeks.

By lifting the requirement, Nevada aligned with other states that did so recently, including New Jersey, California, Connecticut, Delaware and Oregon.

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