Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak has announced that a three-week “statewide pause” will come into effect on Tuesday in a bid to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

The new measures come as government leaders across the US have reinstated a wide range of restrictions amid an alarming surge of COVID-19 cases.

Restrictions in Nevada mean bars and restaurants must reduce operations from 50% to 25%, with prohibitions on service without advance reservations.

Casinos will also be capped at 25% capacity, as well as arcades, museums, theme parks, racetracks and other public venues. 

Additional social distancing requirements must also be put in place in such venues, while individuals must wear face coverings whenever in the presence of others from outside their household.

Private social gatherings, meanwhile, will be restricted to ten people from no more than two households.

Sisolak, who was diagnosed with COVID-19 earlier this month, says the new measures will come into effect on Tuesday, and will last for a period of at least three weeks.

“I am not issuing a shutdown order,” said Sisolak. “My goal is to aggressively try to attack this spread, while maintaining some portion of our economy and our daily lives.

“That is why I am announcing that effective Tuesday, at 12.01am, Nevada will be operating under a statewide pause.”

The news comes as a major blow for casinos across Nevada, which reopened in June after being ordered to close for more than two months following the initial outbreak of COVID-19.