San Diego Casinos Blamed for COVID-19 Spread, Tribal Leaders Reject Assertion
Posted on: December 22, 2020, 12:33h.
Last updated on: December 22, 2020, 01:32h.
Seven tribal casinos in San Diego County, California, are being criticized for allowing COVID-19 to spread throughout their gaming facilities.
KPBS, a not-for-profit media organization owned by San Diego State University, says in a report that at least 638 COVID-19 cases diagnosed since June have been linked to tribal casinos in the area.
Tribal Casino — Linked COVID-19 Cases
- Viejas Casino & Resort — 166
- Sycuan Casino & Resort — 155
- Barona Resort & Casino — 102
- Jamul Casino — 91
- Harrah’s Resort Southern California — 57
- Valley View Casino & Hotel — 45
- Pala Casino Spa & Resort — 22
“It’s very concerning that there’s ongoing transmission in these settings,” Dr. Christian Ramers, an infectious disease specialist at San Diego State University, told KPBS. “It’s like a chain reaction. We’re not going to be able to get our hands around this epidemic when there is just this ongoing transmission.”
San Diego’s tribal casinos voluntarily suspended their operations in March to slow the spread of COVID-19. However, against California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s (D) wishes, the sovereign enterprises began reopening to the public as early as May.
Tribe Rejects Report
The San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) links a COVID-19 case to a location if the infected person had been in that area within two weeks of testing positive.
“Persons may be exposed in multiple settings, including in community exposure settings, in the household, in educational settings, and during travel,” the HHSA explains. “Potential exposure in any of these settings does not indicate a confirmed source of infection.”
The San Diego Health Department says casinos are responsible for less than one percent of all potential community exposure settings. Bars and restaurants are most responsible at 9.2 percent, and retail locations next at 9.1 percent.
Tribal leaders rejected the KPBS allegations that their casinos aren’t safe environments.
A local news agency, KPBS, released a deceptive article suggesting that Viejas Casino & Resort is directly tied to 166 cases of COVID-19 transmission since June 2020, based on KPBS’s questionable analysis of general county COVID-19 related data, not data specific to Viejas,” a statement from the casino explained.
“Prior to the publication of the article, Viejas Casino & Resort notified KPBS that only a few COVID-19 positive cases have been directly tied to Viejas. Those few cases related to a single exposure several months ago among a small group of team members in a non-public office space. Unfortunately, KPBS chose to withhold that information from its article,” the tribe added.
Barona simply said it’s “the safest casino on earth.”
Casino Coronavirus Precautions
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says casinos can take numerous steps to lower the risk of COVID-19 exposure and spread.
The agency explains that the lowest-risk physical casino environment includes proper social distancing and the disinfecting of gaming machines between each use. Gamblers are to be spaced at least six feet apart while seated or standing.
The CDC says casinos increase their COVID-19 exposure and risk profile when table games are in operation. That’s predominantly because of dice and cards being considered high-touch items.
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I went to Barona Casino during the summer a couple of times before the 2nd wave of COVID and was impressed with the safety precautions that Barona had made. Upon entry a customer's temperature is checked, masks are required, no smoking in any area of the casino except for in a room off the casino area, there is spacing between customers at the slot machines with every other machine turned off, only 2 people are allowed at tables such as roulette, there are many hand sanitizer stations, and people can purchase meals and dine in the empty and large buffet room (we were in the back very far from anyone). In contrast at Viejas and Sycuan casinos smoking is allowed in the smoking sections and I noticed quite a few people leaving their masks off after having their smoke, getting up and wandering around maskless, which I didn't appreciate. Every casino should at least not allow any smoking in any part of the casino except for an allotted room off the main area.
I worked for viejas and I have seen lost of people hundreds without face mask teaching their eyes nt keeping distance
This is the liberal idiots pushing America into Socialist country. And inflict their control over our lives. We need to take back our country, and force them out of office. If not we need to secede, and form a new country. Take all the Republican held Counties, an States.