Nevada is no longer under a statewide mask mandate as of Thursday.
Governor Steve Sisolak announced in a virtual press conference the state’s cases and hospitalizations are down, and while the “emergency’s not over,” it is the “appropriate time” to lift the requirement.
The governor said while masks have been effective, vaccines have been the strongest weapon against COVID-19 spread.
Schools and businesses are still allowed to apply their own pandemic-related rules. The mask mandate for schools officially ends tomorrow.
Also on Thursday, the Nevada Gaming Control Board decided to remove mask mandates for casinos.
The Nevada System of Higher Education issued a statement after the governor's announcement saying it will no longer require masks on campuses and urging vaccination.
Nevada is following in the footsteps of multiple other states lifting their mask mandates, including California.