One of Oregon Casinos was Closed Because of Coronavirus Fears

9.03.2020, 17:18

Casino in Pendleton, Ohio, was forced to close due to coronavirus spread across the US. One of Wildhorse Resort and Casino’s employees was diagnosed with the coronavirus recently. The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla, operating this gambling club, decided to close it temporarily to avoid spreading the Covid-19.

Workers and clients who came into contact with the employee were demanded to put themselves in self-isolation for two weeks to ascertain if they had been affected by the virus as well. The casino is located in the area of native tribes reservation that has more than 172,000 acres.

As local press says, the worker operated in a limited zone of the casino, so there are probably few people who contacted him personally.

Officials didn’t define how he was infected; it’s currently is under investigation. Six people confirmed dead of Covid-19 across the US, mostly in the northwestern states.

The Pendleton case is under investigation as a «local virus transmission.» The worker with diagnosed coronavirus didn’t travel outside the city, the casino supervisors say.

Outside the gambling zone, the unnamed person also visited a student sports match at the local school. The places are believed to be visited by him, were closed for cleaning and disinfection.

Officials think his appearance at the match could cause a virus transmission among locals. 

The native tribes are also trying to investigate if other cases of virus spread took place. All other buildings within the community were shut down to avoid panic.

Officials explain on their Facebook page that the Daycare and Senior Center, as well as Nixyaawii Community School, are closed until all facilities have been thoroughly sanitized.

It was the third Covid-19 case recognized in the state. As Dean Sidelinger, an epidemiologist and a health officer of Oregon, says, there could be more happening shortly. 

In his interview for Associated Press, Mr. Sidelinger explains that it’s impossible to indicate the exact virus source of two of three cases. That’s why officials believe that the infection is circling in the area, so probably there will be other cases.

He didn’t tell if other gambling zones in the northwestern states are to close their doors until the coronavirus spread is over like what was seen in Macau and other places. The Covid-19 spreads much faster than in Chinese Wuhan, and this could lead to shutdown orders if authorities feel that the disease continues to spread.