The following is a press release from management of the Coyote Valley Casino:
MESSAGE FROM THE GENERAL MANAGER REGARDING COVID-19
IN RESPONSE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, THE COYOTE VALLEY BAND OF POMO INDIANS DECLARED A LOCAL HEALTH EMERGENCY ON MARCH 19, 2020. TEAM MEMBERS HAVE WORKED DILIGENTLY WITH LOCAL AUTHORITIES TO MONITOR AND RESPOND TO THE VIRUS.
IN THE LATTER PART OF JUNE, A TEAM MEMBER WITH SYMPTOMS WAS INSTRUCTED TO SEEK TESTING AND TO SELF-ISOLATE BASED ON OUR COVID-19 PROTOCOLS. ON JULY 14TH, THE TEAM MEMBER INFORMED THE COYOTE VALLEY CASINO THAT THEY TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID-19. MENDOCINO COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH NOTIFIED THE TEAM MEMBER OF THE POSITIVE RESULT TWELVE (12) DAYS AFTER THE TEST. WE TOOK ACTION IMMEDIATELY.
AT THE TIME THE TEAM MEMBER RECEIVED THE POSITIVE COVID-19 TEST INFORMATION, THEY HAD ALREADY BEEN SELF-ISOLATING FOR MORE THAN THE CDC RECOMMENDED SELF-ISOLATION PERIOD. DUE TO THE UNUSUAL CIRCUMSTANCE OF THE POSITIVE TEST RETURNING SO LATE, THE RISK TO OTHERS HAD PASSED PER THE TEAM MEMBER’S DOCTOR.
IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE MENDOCINO COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH TO INFORM INDIVIDUALS OF A POSITIVE TEST AND TO CONDUCT CONTACT TRACING. ACCORDING TO THE HEALTH INSURANCE PORTABILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT (ALSO KNOWN AS “HIPAA”), MENDOCINO COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH, THE TRIBE AND ITS BUSINESSES WILL NOT SHARE PERSONAL HEALTH INFORMATION.
OUR TEAM MEMBERS AND THE COYOTE VALLEY CASINO EXCEEDED THE REQUIREMENTS OF MENDOCINO COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH AND THE COYOTE VALLEY COVID-19 PROTOCOL. THE RESPONSE TO THIS SITUATION DEMONSTRATES THE DILIGENCE AND PRIDE WE TAKE IN KEEPING OUR GUESTS, TEAM MEMBERS AND COMMUNITY SAFE.
THE NEW CASINO BUILDING IS EQUIPPED WITH A FRESH AIR EXCHANGE SYSTEM, WHICH DOES NOT RECYCLE AIR INSIDE THE CASINO. AT THE ONSET OF COVID-19 THE CASINO VOLUNTARILY CLOSED TO PROTECT THE COMMUNITY. TEAM MEMBERS RECEIVED PAID HEALTH INSURANCE THROUGH THE END OF JUNE AND ASSISTANCE APPLYING FOR EDD BENEFITS. THE CLOSURE PROVIDED TIME TO IMPLEMENT THE FOLLOWING RECOMMENDED SAFETY STANDARDS FOR GAMING ESTABLISHMENTS:
DEEP CLEANING PROTOCOLS
-CONSTANT DISINFECTION OF PUBLIC AND EMPLOYEE HIGH TOUCH AREAS.
-SINCE REOPENING, THE ENTIRE CASINO IS CLOSED NIGHTLY TO DEEP CLEAN AND DISINFECT FROM 4 AM TO 9 AM.
-BUILDING ENTRANCE GUIDELINES
-TEAM MEMBERS, GUESTS AND VENDORS ARE REQUIRED TO WEAR FACEMASKS, WASH THEIR HANDS AND RECEIVE A TEMPERATURE CHECK PRIOR TO ENTERING.
-ONLY ONE ENTRANCE IS USED TO ENSURE COMPLETE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS GUIDELINE.
-BUILDING OCCUPANCY LIMITED TO 25% CAPACITY.
TEAM MEMBER HEALTH AND SAFETY
-WHEN THE CASINO REOPENED, TEAM MEMBERS WERE GIVEN THE OPTION TO STAY ON LEAVE.
-TEAM MEMBERS WERE PROVIDED TRAINING AND INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS ON HOW TO IMPLEMENT COVID-19 PROTOCOLS AND MAINTAIN SAFETY.
-PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE) IS PROVIDED TO ALL TEAM MEMBERS.
BUILDING SAFETY PROTOCOLS
-FACIAL COVERINGS MUST BE APPROPRIATELY WORN WHILE INSIDE THE CASINO.
-HAND SANITIZER IS PROVIDED FOR GUESTS AND TEAM MEMBERS.
-TO HELP MAINTAIN SOCIAL DISTANCING AND KEEP GUESTS SAFE, TABLE GAMES, SLOT MACHINES AND DINING SPACE IS LIMITED AND SOME MACHINES HAVE PLEXIGLASS BARRIERS INSTALLED.
-SMOKING IS ONLY PERMITTED IN A DESIGNATED OUTDOOR AREA.
-OUR BAR AND TAP ROOM DID NOT REOPEN AND WILL REMAIN CLOSED FOR THE TIME BEING.
PUBLIC SIGNAGE IS POSTED THROUGHOUT THE CASINO TO REMIND GUESTS AND TEAM MEMBERS TO MAINTAIN SOCIAL DISTANCING, UTILIZE HAND SANITIZER, WASH YOUR HANDS AND WEAR A FACIAL COVERING. TEAM MEMBERS ALSO PATROL THE GAMING FLOOR TO REMIND PATRONS TO MAINTAIN SOCIAL DISTANCING, UTILIZE HAND SANITIZER, WASH THEIR HANDS AND WEAR A FACIAL COVERING.
THE TRIBE, THE COYOTE VALLEY CASINO AND THE C-STORE WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR, ADDRESS AND RESPOND TO COVID-19 CONCERNS WHILE PROVIDING A SAFE AND INVITING GAMING AND SHOPPING EXPERIENCE. IN THE UPCOMING WEEK, A PROFESSIONAL CLEANING COMPANY WILL DEEP CLEAN THE WHOLE CASINO AND C-STORE. THEY WILL APPLY AN ANTI-MICROBIAL COATING TO SURFACES, WHICH KILLS VIRUSES FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD. TEAM MEMBERS WILL TAKE MANDATORY ROUTINE COVID-19 TESTS AND WILL RECEIVE SAFETY REMINDERS, TRAINING AND EDUCATION TO MAINTAIN EVERYONE’S HEALTH AND SAFETY.
THANK YOU AND STAY SAFE!
MARC BILODEAU
GENERAL MANAGER, COYOTE VALLEY CASINOS
