Marquees for MGM Resorts International properties on the Strip in Las Vegas, including from left, New York-New York, Park MGM and Aria, announce Wednesday, May 27, 2020, a reopening date of June 4 after being shut down for 10 weeks due to the coronavirus. (K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @KMCannonPhoto
Marquees for MGM Resorts International properties on the Strip in Las Vegas, including from left, New York-New York, Park MGM and Aria, announce Wednesday, May 27, 2020, a reopening date of June 4 after being shut down for 10 weeks due to the coronavirus. (K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @KMCannonPhoto
Marquees for MGM Resorts International properties on the Strip in Las Vegas, including Park MGM, announce Wednesday, May 27, 2020, a reopening date of June 4 after being shut down for 10 weeks due to the coronavirus. (K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @KMCannonPhoto
Marquees for MGM Resorts International properties on the Strip in Las Vegas, including Park MGM, announce Wednesday, May 27, 2020, a reopening date of June 4 after being shut down for 10 weeks due to the coronavirus. (K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @KMCannonPhoto
Marquees for MGM Resorts International properties on the Strip in Las Vegas, including from left, New York-New York, Park MGM and Aria, announce Wednesday, May 27, 2020, a reopening date of June 4 after being shut down for 10 weeks due to the coronavirus. (K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @KMCannonPhoto
A digital sign at Excalibur announces the reopening of some MGM Resorts International casinos on the Las Vegas Strip, Wednesday, May 27, 2020. (K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @KMCannonPhoto
The Bellagio marquee says the hotel and casino, owned big MGM Resorts International, will open on June 4 on Wednesday, May 27, 2020on the Strip in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
The Bellagio marquee says the hotel and casino, owned big MGM Resorts International, will open on June 4 on Wednesday, May 27, 2020on the Strip in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
The Bellagio marquee says the hotel and casino, owned big MGM Resorts International, will open on June 4 on Wednesday, May 27, 2020on the Strip in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
The Strip stood dark for 10 weeks as Nevada mostly stayed home during the coronavirus pandemic — but signs of reopening appeared Wednesday as MGM Resorts International properties changed their marquees.
Billboards in front of MGM properties Wednesday confirmed the company will resume operations at some of its casinos on June 4. In a conference call with reporters Tuesday, Gov. Steve Sisolak confirmed that casinos and other tourist attractions could reopen June 4 and that Phase Two reopenings of businesses, including some bars and health facilities, would begin Friday.
The signs in front of multiple MGM Resorts’ properties read, “Welcome Back to the Show.” The company’s website confirmed that Bellagio, MGM Grand, and New York-New York would be reopening June 4, as well as the Signature at MGM Grand.
The company’s website also outlined safety precautions at the casinos to prevent spread of the virus. Face masks will not be mandatory for customers, although they will be “strongly encouraged,” and employees will be required to wear masks, the website said.
Employees also will undergo temperature checks to return to work. In locations where staying 6 feet apart to social distance isn’t possible, casinos will have “plexiglass barriers, face shields or clear signage,” the website said.
MGM Resorts is one of three major casino companies that will begin testing employees for the virus before they return to work.
The Gaming Control Board on Wednesday updated its health and safety policies for reopening casinos, including requiring licensees to have face coverings available for patrons and guests and to encourage customers to wear the face masks while in public places at the casinos.
Casinos and resorts have been closed since March 18. Some casino operators, including MGM Resorts International and Caesars Entertainment Corp., announced layoffs and furloughs during the pandemic.
