UPDATE MARCH 15: Wynn Las Vegas announced it will be temporarily closing its race and sportsbook along with the poker room starting Sunday.
UPDATE MARCH 12: Wynn Resorts announced it will be temporarily cancel all large entertainment gatherings. This includes buffets, nightclubs and theaters in Las Vegas and Boston.
CEO of Wynn Resorts Matt Maddox released this statement about their safety and policy programs amid reports of the COVID-19 pandemic.
He also said the properties are going to continue to pay full-time employees that work in the spaces and monitor the situation to determine if any additional action may be required.
Maddox continued to say that properties will also be screening for temperature using non-invasive thermal cameras at all hotel and casino entrances.
And in gaming areas and dining establishments, the properties we will create appropriate distancing between guests at gaming devices and dining tables, while still delivering the service levels guests expect and deserve.
Maddox concluded Thursday's statement by thanking employees and business partners for their willingness to make such challenging decisions so quickly.
Additional updates will be available here.
ORIGINAL STORY
Wynn Las Vegas says it is implementing several changes in an effort to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, also known as coronavirus disease 2019.
The announcement comes one day after MGM said is was temporarily closing its buffets at properties on the Strip, and on the same day the World Health Organization declared the ongoing coronavirus outbreak a pandemic.
In a press release to the media, the Wynn said it is enhancing sanitation procedure, instituting a new employee sick leave policy, establishing protocols for guests who feel ill and changing its food handling procedures.
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Effective today, the company says The Buffet will have staff at each station to serve guests, "eliminating the need for guests to touch serving utensils."
Wynn says it is following recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Southern Nevada Health District.
RELATED: MGM Resorts to temporarily close its Las Vegas buffets
Read the full statement from Wynn below:
Wynn Las Vegas has implemented several changes in a concerted effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and to create the safest possible environment for guests and employees. The updated program follows recommendations from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Southern Nevada Health District (SNHD). In addition, the Company has independently engaged as a consultant, Dr. Rebecca Katz, Director of the Center for Global Health Science and Security at Georgetown University Medical Center to assist with formalizing the following procedures:
Enhanced Sanitization Procedures
- We are in frequent communication with our employees to reinforce our sanitization safety procedures in both guest-facing and back-of-house areas.
- We are sanitizing high-traffic public areas at an increased frequency. Public touch points, such as handrails, elevator buttons, door handles and knobs are cleaned multiple times throughout the day. Surfaces such as front desk, restaurant counters and dining tables and casino gaming floor slot machines are wiped regularly.
- Hand sanitizers are located throughout public and back of house locations. Sanitizers are refilled and checked regularly.
- All employees are instructed each day on correct hand sanitizing procedures. Employees are instructed to wash hands before and after eating and before returning to a work area. Table gaming employees are instructed to wash hands after every break before returning to a game. Proper procedures have been posted in all back-of-house work areas.
Temporary Sick Leave Policy for Employees
- Wynn Resorts has instituted a new Employee Sick leave policy which offers 5 days paid sick leave to ensure employees who are ill remain home. All Wynn employees are prohibited from reporting to work with a respiratory illness that can be transmitted to others.
- If any employee were to be diagnosed as having coronavirus, they would be placed on a Medical Leave of Absence and would be paid for the duration of physician-mandated treatment.
Established Formal Protocol for Guests Who Feel Ill
- If at any point a guest feels ill, they should return to their room and contact the front desk. A trained member of our security team will come to the room and help assess the situation, including taking a temperature reading, and evaluate the need for medical assistance.
Revised Food Handling Procedures
- Effective today, The Buffet will station culinary staff at each food station to serve guests, eliminating the need for guests to touch serving utensils. In addition, we are routinely cleaning all hard surfaces and have placed hand sanitizing stations at the entrance for guests to utilize prior to entry. All restaurants continue to maintain the highest possible standards of cleanliness.
For additional information and updates, please visit www.wynninfo.com.
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