Visitors flock to Strip despite virus uptick
Despite a sharp uptick of COVID- 19 cases in Nevada, crowds of tourists flocked to the Strip for Fourth of July weekend.
While crowds have yet to reach pre-pandemic levels, a good amount of visitors — many of whom had driven in from neighboring states — were spotted on the Strip Friday.
Los Angeles natives Nicole and Paul Viazcan said a lot has changed in Las Vegas compared to their last visit in January.
“It’s different,” Nicole Viazcan said. “My anxiety came when we got here and I saw so many people not wearing masks walking (outside). … (But) it’s either putting your life on hold, or you’re going to try to go out and be safe about it. In my purse I have wipes, I have sanitizer, I have Lysol.”
Room rates listed on Hotels.com and company websites hint that demand
has increased for the three-day holiday weekend compared with the weekend of June 4, when Nevada casinos first reopened.
A Wednesday search on Hotels. com showed a night at Harrah’s Las Vegas started at $349 for Saturday, compared with $75 on June 6. A room at Circus Circus started at $118 Saturday, up from $52 on June 6. MGM Grand rates also went up from $169 to $199.
Slow crowds Friday morning
Large crowds had yet to reach the Strip as of 9:30 a.m. Friday.
Among the few people passing by the Bellagio fountains at that time, Jaylen Torres and her fiance, Abisai Garcia, said they drove in from Salt Lake City that morning for a day trip. The two planned to hit the Linq Hotel’s High Roller while they were in town.
“It seems slow,” Garcia said. “Businesses aren’t open as early” as they usually are.
Illinois native Nate Johnson said he visits Las Vegas with his wife multiple times a year, but said the city is “not near as much fun” during the pandemic.
“(There are) a lot more rules, and usually people come to Vegas because there are no rules,” he said.
Crowds at the Bellagio were small but steady Friday morning, with dozens of guests milling around the casino floor.
There was a line outside the elevators that morning to allow for fewer people in each lift, and all staff members were seen wearing masks.
Mask use among guests was mostly consistent, although there were some improperly worn by gamblers at table games, with the masks not covering noses.
Paul Viazcan, who booked a room at the Flamingo with his wife for the holiday weekend, said the casinos’ new health and safety protocols helped ease their anxieties about COVID-19 on their trip.
“We knew that safety measures were taken, so we’re good, and that’s what’s calming us down,” he said.
Las Vegas local Mayra Arzate, who had planned a staycation at Caesars Palace with friends this weekend, said she has seen casinos follow safety precautions for the most part, but has also witnessed some guests ignoring social distancing rules.
“I feel like (the casinos) are trying, but with the crowds I don’t think it’s happening,” she said.
‘So far, so good’
Crowds swelled as the day went on. Wynn Las Vegas had a sizable crowd around 2:30 p.m. on the casino floor with the tables appearing to house more people than the slot machines.
The action and noise died down quickly when hitting the Wynn Plaza Shops. The two stores with the most customers around 2:40 p.m. were Louis Vuitton and Chanel, where a small line formed outside each boutique as stores implemented social distancing measures.
Carmen Castaneda was window shopping at the Plaza Shops after checking into the hotel with her husband. They drove up from Arizona for the night.
“I heard about all the precautions they’re taking because of COVID and thought it should be safe — so far so good,” she said. “I haven’t gone outside, but driving down the street I didn’t see people with masks but inside the hotel everyone has masks.”
Outside along Las Vegas Boulevard, Los Angeles residents Alex and Rosie Lopez were walking south toward the Wynn. The husband and wife decided to come to Las Vegas for the holiday weekend to get out of the house and “just adventure,” according to Alex Lopez.
The foot traffic along Las Vegas Boulevard was fairly light in the afternoon heat and about half the pedestrians could be seen wearing masks while others pulled them down under their chin or held them in their hand as they took in the sights.
The crowd inside the Sahara was certainly smaller compared with the one at the Wynn, but nearly all of the guests were focused on gambling.
Contact Bailey Schulz at bschulz@ reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0233. Follow @bailey_schulz on Twitter. Contact Subrina Hudson at shudson@ reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0340. Follow @Subrinah on Twitter.