Giving new meaning to the term “essential services,” strip clubs have been given the green light to re-open in Las Vegas, enabling topless dancers to shed not only their duds, but coronavirus restrictions as well, and get face-to-face with patrons again.

The new rules, effective May 1, will allow strip club entertainers to get closer than 0.9 meters to patrons if the entertainer received at least a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine at least 14 days earlier, according to county rules, or if the dancer tests negative in a weekly COVID-19 test.

Masks, however, will still be recommended for customers, as well as club employees.

Sin City strip clubs initially went dark when Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak ordered casinos, clubs and nonessential businesses closed in March 2020.

The strip clubs, which will be able to open at 80% of fire code capacity, are joined by other businesses, such as stores, spas and saunas, restaurants and bars, and karaoke clubs, with occupancy limits relaxed but not lifted completely under a reopening plan adopted by county officials.

Casino dayclubs and nightclubs can also reopen, although designated dancing areas will remain closed until health officials report that a 60% community vaccination rate is met.

A separate plan to lift restrictions almost completely in Washoe County skidded to a stop after health district, school and Reno city officials protested and pointed to rising local coronavirus case numbers.

The governor has set a June 1 date for lifting essentially all state restrictions except a requirement for people to wear face coverings.