Current COVID-19 Mandates on the Nevada and California Sides of the Lake

By Kayla Anderson | Tuesday, December 21, 2021

Due to the ongoing nature of the COVID-19 health pandemic, the State of Nevada has reinforced mask mandates in counties that have substantial or high transmission levels based on what the latest CDC COVID-19 tracker shows. An effective facemask covers both the nose and mouth. In these counties (the highest risk labeled in Red), everyone — including fully vaccinated people — must wear a mask in indoor public spaces. For a county to change its mask requirement status, it must maintain a low or moderate transmission classification for at least two consecutive weeks.

The counties in Nevada that are within the Tahoe Basin include Washoe County on the northeast shore (Incline Village and Crystal Bay) and Douglas County on the southeast shore (Zephyr Cove and Stateline).

The Nevada Health Response publishes its updated State of Nevada County Masking Mandate Guide every Tuesday.

In early December, the California Department of Public Health implemented a mandatory mask mandate for vaccinated and unvaccinated persons older than the age of 2 in all indoor public settings as well, in effect at least through January 15, 2022. Those attending a “mega event” — a thousand people or more in an indoor setting or 10,000 people or more at an outdoor event — must show either proof of being vaccinated or a negative COVID-19 test result (within two days of the event if getting a PCR test or one day from the event when using a rapid antigen test).

California counties within the Tahoe Basin include Placer County (Kings Beach, Tahoe City, Tahoma) and El Dorado County (City of South Lake Tahoe). Nevada County and Truckee also must follow California’s COVID-19 regulations.

Most businesses ask that you keep a distance of 6 feet or more (when possible) from people you don’t know.

About the Author Kayla Anderson
Kayla Anderson is a North Lake Tahoe-based freelance writer who regularly contributes to the Sparks Tribune, Tahoe Weekly and Tahoe.com Magazine.
Lake Tahoe Articles