New York casinos to open at full capacity

Covid restrictions have been lifted across New York allowing gaming venues to reopen.

With more than 70% of New York residents aged 18 or over having received the first dose of the vaccine, the decision has been made to lift Covid restrictions among commercial settings.

This is following the state’s health guidance advice. Social distancing, cleaning and disinfecting, health screening and track and trace will all be optional for casinos.

In accordance with guidance given by the Center for Disease Control, those who are yet to receive their vaccine are still expected to wear masks. This will be a personal responsibility, however. Other large capacity events, as well as pre-K to grade 12 schools, public transport, hospitals and homeless shelters will continue to follow Covid guidelines.

“What New York has done is extraordinary,” said Governor Cuomo. “Not only do we have the lowest Covid positivity rate in the United States of America, we have hit 70% vaccination ahead of schedule. We successfully deployed the weapon that will win the war, and New York led the nation. We led with nurse Sandra Lindsay, who was the first at Northwell to take that vaccine and to assure people it was safe. We’ve gone on to do more than 20 million vaccines, more per capita than any big state in the United States of America.”

He continued: “Congratulations to New Yorkers because they are the ones who did it. We’re no longer just surviving – we’re thriving. The state mandates that have proven right and brought us through this pandemic are relaxed as of today, effective immediately.”

Following this relaxation of Covid measures, Rivers Casino Schenectady will open at 100% capacity. Those who are not vaccinated will be asked to wear masks, yet plastic safety barriers have been removed on all slot machines and table games.

Henry Moore

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