Governor Sisolak published an emergency directive allowing Nevadans to forgo a mask while indoors unless a local jurisdiction still imposes such a requirement.

Quick to follow suit, the Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB) issued a notice to licensees stating that gaming establishments will no longer be required to make their patrons and staff don face coverings.

“Pursuant to Governor Sisolak’s Emergency Directive 052, effective immediately, individuals are no longer required to wear a mask in public indoor settings in licensed gaming establishments,” said the NGCB.

It added: “If a licensee is subject to a local jurisdiction’s requirement relating to masks, the board expects full compliance from the licensee.”

Citing a decline in Covid cases and hospitalisations, Sisolak’s recent directive terminates several prior ones. It has taken effect immediately.

“Given all of these updates and the tools we have, now is the appropriate time for me to announce that Nevada will rescind our mask mandate, effective immediately,” wrote Sisolak on Twitter.

He added: “We are at this point now because as Nevadans we always look out for one another — that’s our Battle Born spirit and that’s the Nevada way.”

Nevada relaxed its mask policy last year but this most recent mandate came into effect in July 2021 after a surge in Covid cases. This development also comes only days before Super Bowl LVI, which is scheduled to take place on Sunday 13 February.