Pechanga remains open but is under very limited occupancy and reduced operational restrictions with comprehensive safety measures as we have been since reopening June 1st. The COVID-19 pandemic closed all commercial and tribal casino properties in the United States. This map tracks reopening across the country at the property-level. A property is considered open based on gambling availability. Please contact an individual property to determine what amenities are available. Current Status: 82 Closed 915 Open.
LINCOLN (CBS13) — There are a lot of handles, buttons, and tables to touch if you’re going to gamble at Thunder Valley Casino.
Atlantic City Casinos Virus Update
It’s why Kioko Martins has her own stash of hand sanitizer and keeps a mask with her.
“I’m ready to go and it’s been a long time I haven’t been out here,” she said.
Dwayne West Jr. keeps his hands away from his face, hat, and mask.
“Just make sure I’m sanitizing and watching what surfaces I touch,” he said.
Casino Virus Closings
But even with safety protocols like thermal temperature checks, masks, and hand sanitizer over at Colusa Casino, gamblers are being warned about possible exposure just days after it reopened.
With more casinos reopening in the area, we wanted to know if it’s too soon. We turned to Dr. Jeffrey Klausner, professor of medicine and infectious disease expert at UCLA. He says exposures are more likely to occur indoors and when it comes to casinos specifically they are considered low to medium risk.
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“I don’t think it’s too soon. I think we need California to be back to work and back to school and back to play. The original purpose of shutting down the state was to save the hospitals, the hospitals were saved,” said Dr. Klaunser.
Dr. Klausner says cleaning high-touch surfaces inside casinos is effective and an important way to reduce the further risk of spread. Thunder Valley says a special maintenance team works to disinfect and sanitizing is also done by dealers and team members after every use.
“You’re going to have somebody that it there wiping the slots machines wiping the table games down,” said Doug Elmets with Thunder Valley Casino.
For the most part, gamblers aren’t too worried.
“More hand sanitizer, more people be aware of each other,” Martins said.
“I think if everybody pays attention to doing what is necessary, you know everybody will be clean there won’t be the spread of the virus or anything like that,” said Daryl Zafferano.