New York: Rivers Casino employee tests positive for COVID-19

As announced by the Schenectady County Public Health Services, an employee at Rivers Casino has tested positive for coronavirus. The affected staff member worked on four days in late September before testing positive.

Schenectady County Public Health Services say they are working closely with Rivers and the potential risk of exposure to customers is low, NEWS10 reports.

"The health, safety, and wellbeing of our Team Members, guests and the community is our top priority. Rivers Casino & Resort Schenectady follows best practices from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and meets or exceeds all State of New York Gaming Facility Guidelines for reopening. We defer to the Schenectady County Health Department for all COVID-19 data. If any cases have potential for impact on Team Members or guests, they are notified accordingly," casino officials said.

Rivers resumed operations on September 9, following an almost six-month hiatus after the coronavirus pandemic led to the establishment closing its doors on March 16. The employee who tested positive worked on September 20, 21, 22, and 29.

Members of the public who visited Rivers Resort and Casino on the dates the affected employee worked are being contacted by Schenectady County Public Health in regards to their exposure.

Casinos were not mentioned in any phase of the New York Governor’s reopening plan, but were eventually allowed to reopen in September with restrictions in place. These restrictions included a 25% occupancy limit and a ban on table games.