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

Photos of the neon-lit, but slightly dimmed, 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 dozens of 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.

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‹ Slide me › Where the streets were once brightly lit and bustling with people, Nevada's Las Vegas strip has become a dark ghost town. Pictured left, a walkway before the closures were enforced, and right, after most of the tourists had gone home

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

Just two people headed along a walkway through the center of Las Vegas, despite all non-essential businesses being told to close as thousands of holidaymakers headed home

Where usually crowds thronged in the area, now only one man could be seen walking by this Hotel and Casino

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

As darkness fell on the Las Vegas strip those who were left behind were forced to walk in darkness

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 couple walked hand-in-hand as they rolled a suitcase behind them on their way out of the city. They both wore facemasks

The M Resort in Henderson, Nevada, was in darkness after its closure, with only a few lights left on in the remaining residences

There were chains around the handles of doors (left) at the El Cortez hotel and casino where signs told people to 'stop'

'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. Advertisement

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.