Thirty-seven Southern Nevada bars are suing to rescind Governor Steve Sisolak’s recent order closing them for a second time to try to stem a resurgence of Covid-19 in the state.
Bars were originally closed along with other non-essential businesses, including casinos, in mid-March. They were allowed to reopen May 29 as part of a phased restart of the state’s economy. But reports that many of the venues have not complied with social distancing and other safety requirements has been of increasing concern to the Governor’s Office as both the number of new infections and the rate of infection have spiraled across Nevada in recent weeks.
The new shutdown affects establishments serving alcohol in seven counties with elevated virus transmission rates.
Last week’s court action was limited to plaintiffs in Clark County, who say they’re being unfairly singled out.
“The disparate treatment of bars and taverns is unreasonable because there is no rational basis for treating bars and taverns differently than other, similarly situated, non-essential businesses,” the suit, filed in Clark County District Court, says.
Sisolak’s office declined to comment, according to a report in the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
