Las Vegas goes dark: Iconic strip is deserted as Sin City joins list of barren US towns

Las Vegas remained a ghost town as the sun set today, 48 hours after Nevada’s governor Steve Sisolak shut down all of the state’s casinos.

Photos of the still brightly neon-lit casino mecca showed a nearly deserted city with only a handful of people walking along the Strip as night fell over a once-bustling Fremont Street.

Owners of some casinos put up yellow caution tape around the entrances of buildings while others placed signs informing potential customers of their closures. A closer look into some of the casinos showed empty chairs in front of slot machines.

A sign at the entrance of the MGM Grand reads: ‘This property is currently closed. We look forward to welcoming you again.’

The words ‘doors closed. Hearts open’ were emblazoned on advertising boards across the city to offer support to the thousands of tourists who had been asked to leave.

On Tuesday, Sisolak shut down all nonessential businesses due to COVID-19. Nevada currently has more than 50 cases of the virus, including one death.

Scroll down for video

Las Vegas remained a ghost town after the sun set just 48 hours after Nevada’s governor Steve Sisolak shut down all of the state’s casinos

An advertising board in the heart of the Nevada city reads ‘Doors closed. Hearts open’ to offer hope to those told to leave

The entrance to the Fremont Street Experience was closed off with barriers after tourists were told to head home

Casino lobbies were empty as the sun set on the casino mecca, with once heaving dining areas (pictured) left bare

Another ‘Doors closed. Hearts open’ sign was emblazoned on an advertising board outside Palace Station Hotel and Casino

Traffic lights continued to work despite a distinct absence of traffic along the key roads near the main Las Vegas strip

An empty Las Vegas strip is seen during the day on Wednesday amid a state wide closure to contain the COVID-19 pandemic in Las Vegas, Nevada

Shops around the Fremont Street Experience in Downtown Las Vegas were shuttered as holidaymakers were forced home

Bright neon signs still lit the way through the Fremont Street Experience despite crowds staying away from the area

The Grand Hotel & Casino’s glass-fronted doors were tightly shut amid the state-wide closure to avoid further spread of the virus during the pandemic

‘This is only common sense. This is affecting the lives of our citizens. People are dying. Every day that is delayed here, I’m losing a dozen people on the back end that are going to die as a result of this,’ Sisolak said announcing the 30-day closures at a press conference in Las Vegas.

CASINOS WERE LAST CLOSED FOR JFK’S FUNERAL

The last time casinos closed in Las Vegas was for John F. Kennedy’s funeral on November 25, 1963.

Michael Green, a history professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, said in an email to The Associated Press Tuesday night that to his knowledge, it was the first time all Nevada casinos have been ordered closed statewide.

He previously said this week’s intentional casino closures may be only the fourth since gambling was legalized in Las Vegas in 1931.

‘The state occasionally revoked a license and ordered one closed, but nothing like this,’ he wrote.

Slot machines were shut down at midnight Tuesday, local time. The casinos, which employ tens of thousands of workers, closed at noon Wednesday.

Sisolak added: ‘In a time where people are getting sick from simply being near others, this is not the time for gyms to remain open. This is not the time for casinos to remain open.

‘This is not a time for community recreation centers, clubhouses, movie theaters and malls to remain open.’

Essential services, such as fire, police, transit and health care services would remain open.

Sisolak also exempted businesses that provide food, shelter, or social services for disadvantaged populations from closing.

He added: ‘What are you willing to do to save your life and the life of the ones you love? Please take this seriously. Please stay home for Nevada.’

In response, companies including casino operator Caesars Entertainment Corp said they would temporarily shut down their establishments.

‘It has become clear that we must take this extreme action to help contain the virus and protect the safety and well-being of our team members and guests,’ said Caesars Entertainment Chief Executive Officer Tony Rodio.

Derek Stevens, owner of the D Las Vegas and Golden Gate, said: ‘Although this is a devastating time for our country and our community, I’m confident the Las Vegas resiliency will allow us to rise again, stronger than ever.’

Gamblers and holidaymakers stayed away from the area after it was placed under lockdown in an attempt to contain the virus

Behind the fence no one could be seen walking around the area, and it seemed to have been completely deserted

A few people ventured outside amid the lockdown, with one man seen here crossing the road on his own as a policy of social distancing was upheld

A usually rammed Circus Circus Casino and Hotel was closed today, but the neon lights continued to brighten up the area

Barriers were placed to demonstrate the closures. Despite a couple of cars still parked outside this series of shops no one can be seen walking around

This street was left completely empty following the closures, as tourists were forced to leave amid the closures

A couple of tourists milled around this street despite others staying away or heading home amid the closures

Barriers blocked off a walkway by the restaurant Denny’s during the state-wide closures after tourists were sent packing

The MGM Resorts International and Wynn Resorts had already said they would be closing temporarily. Wynn Resorts has said it will pay employees for 30 days.

The Hoover Dam, near the Arizona border and another Nevada tourist attraction, is temporarily closing to visitors ‘because of the nature of the structure and an inability to implement social distancing standards recommended by the’ CDC, according to a statement.

The highly contagious respiratory illness is on the rise in the US, with more than 9,000 people infected and nearly 150 dead.

Streets along this main area of the strip were completely deserted despite signs still being turned on

The entrance to the Fremont experience was closed off and no tourists had lingered about as the area closed down

This hotel was closed and nobody walked along the street outside, despite the area usually teaming with footfall

A single man in a wheelchair remained in the area after the city went into lockdown earlier on Wednesday

A giant lit-up neon horse and cowboy was still on display by the Fremont Street Experience. There was no one around

The area surrounding Walgreens and various restaurants was deserted by Wednesday evening as people headed home

A few tourists still milled around outside a restaurant which would usually feature lively cat-themed karaoke

A single man stood outside the Aztec Inn and Casino as everyone else had already left the area amid the closures

Signs on the El Cortez Hotel and Casino told anyone trying to enter to stop because the doors had been tightly locked

The lights inside the Grand Hotel and Casino were off as the doors were locked shut on Wednesday amid the outbreak

Following the decision to shut all casinos on the strip the American Gaming Association said: ‘Nevada is the epicenter of the resilient American gaming industry.

‘The federal government must act swiftly to bring relief to our friends, neighbors, and colleagues in Nevada and all across America whose livelihoods have been severely impacted by these hard but necessary actions.’

The shutdown of the multi-billion-dollar industry is a hammer blow for the city’s tourism and entertainment sectors as hotel occupancy rates have already begun to nosedive.

A closer look into some of the casinos showed empty chairs in front of slot machines (pictured)

Owners of some casinos put up yellow caution tape around the entrances of buildings while others placed signs informing potential customers of their closures

A sign at the entrance of the MGM Grand (pictured) reads: ‘This property is currently closed. We look forward to welcoming you again’

Slot machines were shut down at midnight Tuesday, local time. The casinos, which employ tens of thousands of workers, closed at noon Wednesday

Closure signs were put on the doors at the entrance of the New York-New York Hotel & Casino on Wednesday

The doors of the Four Queens hotel-casino are chained after Sisolak shut down all nonessential businesses, including casinos at the heart of the state’s economy, as part of steps to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Wednesday

Out of service signs (pictured) were seen at two escalators along the Strip on Wednesday

A 24-hour food court (pictured) normally bustling with people was also closed down in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Wednesday

The Excalibur Hotel & Casino closed its doors at noon on Wednesday following the governor’s orders

The leisure and hospitality industry directly employs one of every four workers in the state and has an economic output of about $68billion in Nevada, according to the Nevada Resort Association.

According to Wynn Resorts’ official figures on its website, the company’s operating revenues over three months up to last September were $1.65billion.

MGM Grand posted net revenues of $3.2billion over three months up to the end of 2019, the firm’s accounts state.

Several employees at MGM Resorts International hotel-casinos on the Las Vegas Strip, including at least one at Luxor, tested positive in a presumptive test for COVID-19 over the weekend.

On Friday it emerged two employees, one at the Luxor and another at the Wet Republic pool, tested positive.

In a statement, MGM said they will not be taking any reservations prior to May 1.

Everything you need to know about coronavirus

By Natalie Rahhal, Acting US Health Editor for DailyMail.com

HOW DANGEROUS IS CORONAVIRUS?

About 14 percent of people who contract the Covid-19 coronavirus are taken to hospital – with severe symptoms including breathing problems and pneumonia. About 5 per cent need intensive care.

But the majority who get the virus suffer nothing more than a cough and may never know they are infected.

So far, some 51,000 people around the world have already recovered from coronavirus – and that just includes the numbers who received a diagnosis.

HOW MANY PEOPLE DIE?

Officially, the death rate so far has been just over three percent. But experts believe the true mortality rate is probably between one and two percent. This is because most mild cases have not been picked up by doctors or reflected in the official numbers – so the death rate is inflated.

HOW DOES THIS COMPARE WITH OTHER DISEASES?

Seasonal flu kills roughly 0.1 percent of people. So Covid-19 is between 10 and 20 times more fatal.

But it is far less dangerous than SARS – the virus that ripped across China in 2003 – which killed 10 percent of patients.

BUT DOESN’T CORONAVIRUS SPREAD MORE EASILY?

Yes, but not dramatically. The best estimates suggest every person with Covid-19 passes it on to 2.6 people, on average. For flu that number is 1.5.

CAN IT BE SPREAD WITHOUT SYMPTOMS?

Initially scientists feared carriers who had no symptoms could pass it on. That is now in doubt.

What is likely, however, is those who have mild symptoms are putting it down to a cold and going about their normal lives – which puts others at risk.

HOW LONG IS IT BEFORE SYMPTOMS APPEAR?

Again, unclear. Initially scientists said this could take up to two weeks.

But recent evidence suggests the incubation period could be as long as a month – particularly among children.

The average, however, is much shorter. A Chinese study said the average period of symptom onset was 5.4 days for adults and 6.5 for children.

WHO IS AT RISK?

The virus can affect anyone – with a study of the first 41 infected people revealing two thirds did not suffer from any pre-existing condition. But the middle-aged are most likely to get it – 78 percent of those infected in China have been aged 30 to 69.

WHAT ABOUT THE OLD?

Only 3 percent of people infected so far have been over 80 – but if they get it they are more vulnerable. Analysis of 72,000 cases in China suggests for over-80s the death rate is 15 percent. For those in their 70s the death rate is 8 percent and for those in their 60s, 4 percent.

WHO ELSE IS VULNERABLE?

Those with other conditions – such as diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and kidney problems – are likely to suffer severe complications if they become infected.

WHAT ABOUT CHILDREN?

Children seem to be low-risk. Less than 1 percent of the Chinese cases have been under the age of ten – and if children do get the virus it’s often a mild form.

They do, however, retain the virus for longer than adults.

A study last week found the virus was still present in the stools of some children for a month after they contracted it.

DOES GENDER MATTER?

Men are marginally more likely to get the virus than women. It is not clear why this is.

HOW DO DOCTORS TEST FOR COVID-19?

Anyone who has symptoms –particularly if they have travelled to an at-risk area – are told to call ahead to their health care provider, local emergency department or clinics.

This way, health care providers can be prepared, wearing masks, gloves and other personal protective equipment when they meet the possible patient and escort them to isolated areas of the facility.

They are tested using a cheek swab which is sent off for analysis at one of 12 Public Health England labs, a process that takes between 24 and 48 hours. Any positive test is double-checked at the main PHE lab in Colindale.

WHAT TREATMENT DO PATIENTS GET?

There is little doctors can do to tackle the virus, but they can treat the symptoms – such as fever and respiratory problems. Antivirals and antibiotics are also used, mainly to keep secondary problems at bay.

In the most serious cases patients are put on life-support equipment.

There are several clinical trials for potential coronavirus treatments ongoing worldwide, including one in Nebraska, where at least 13 patients are in quarantine, including two in biocontainment units.

WHAT ABOUT A VACCINE?

Even though the Wuhan virus appeared only a few weeks ago, 20 teams around the world are already manufacturing vaccines.

Chinese authorities provided the DNA code for the virus early on in the outbreak, enabling scientists to get to work straight away.

At least 30 companies and research institutions in the US are racing to make a vaccine.

Last week, one of these companies, Moderna, shipped its candidate vaccine to the US, signalling the shot was ready to begin clinical trials.

Even so, US health authorities say it will likely be upwards of a year before a vaccine is actually ready.