Infamous Nevada Brothels Stay Open With Pledge to Increase Hand-Washing

The coronavirus may have stopped most of American life, but one pastime promises to persist. Nevada’s legal brothels say they are there for it.

The largest houses say they are still open, though they are taking precautions. For example, Chicken Ranch, in Pahrump said it will require brothel workers and staff to “wash their hands regularly and use hand sanitizers as needed,” according to a letter from its general manager. It’s also having staff take their temperatures daily.

Coronavirus may put an industry unique to the state, which already faces political opposition, under particular strain.

The Nevada Brothel Association said workers are already subjected to weekly health tests, according to a blog post on its website. Still, it has asked businesses to turn away ill visitors and is encouraging “‘virtual happy hours’ with clients and friends to maintain human connections and social interactions during this stressful period of time,” according to a statement posted on its website.

The group also recommends brothels turn away clients who have been overseas during the past two weeks and reduce the number of stools in bars by half to encourage social distancing.

“Health and safety is, and always has been, our primary concern,” Suzette Cole, the owner of four brothels in Lyon County and head of the trade group’s political action committee, wrote in the blog post.