Pandemic roller coaster
The COVID-19 pandemic has obviously been devastating to casinos, but things are about to get worse for the few in Massachusetts. This week, Governor Charlie Baker announced a slew of “targeted measures” to slow the spread of the virus.
The United States is in its “third wave” of the pandemic right now, though in reality, the first wave never really ended. And the country is seemingly hitting new all-time highs in cases and deaths every day. According to the news release from Baker’s office, Massachusetts’ cases (presumably new daily cases) are up 278% and hospitalizations are up 145% since Labor Day, just two months ago.
Casinos go dark after dark
The mitigation measure that will affect Encore Boston Harbor, MGM Springfield, and Plainridge Park the most is a restriction on operating hours. Casinos, along with certain other businesses, will be required to close from 9:30pm until 5:00am. The rule takes effect November 6.
The types of businesses that fall under this order are the types of places you would expect: venues and activities where people congregate indoors or in large numbers/close proximity outdoors. Restaurants (takeout and delivery can go past the curfew), movie theaters, gyms, museums, and much more.
Encore Boston Harbor has also decided to close its hotel while the restrictions are in place.
In addition to casino and other facility closures, a stay-at-home advisory will be in place from 10:00pm to 5:00am. People can leave their houses for things like work, grocery shopping, doctor visits, and exercise. We all went through this in the spring – sounds about the same.
There is also a mask mandate, requiring everyone in public places to wear protective face coverings. Exceptions are made for people who can’t wear one because of medical conditions, but employers can make employees show proof of such a condition.
Governor trying to protect residents
Governor Baker said that he knows the new restrictions will be tough for people, but his attitude is “better safe than sorry.”
He wants to “….see if we can’t do something to bend what is a very disturbing trend that if we just let run, will have real consequences for our healthcare system and ultimately for the rest of our economy as well.”
Talking about masks, which have unnecessarily become a political focal point, Baker said:
If people would just wear these things religiously for 30 days, we could kill the virus. Religiously wear them for 30 days. The virus can’t survive unless it can jump from me to you to you to you to you to you to you. It’s got a shelf-life in each individual. And the way it survives is by jumping from one person to the next.
The casinos were forced to close in mid-March because of the pandemic and were among the last in the country to reopen, not welcoming back guests until mid-July.
