Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Venetian, Palazzo to screen guests for temperatures

Strip Casinos Begin Temporary Closures

Steve Marcus

An exterior view of the Venetian in Las Vegas,Tuesday, March 17, 2020.

The picture of what casinos might look and feel like once Strip resorts reopen became a little clearer today with the release of guidelines by Las Vegas Sands.

The company said it will screen all guests at its Venetian and Palazzo resorts using thermal cameras, flagging those who register 100.4 degrees or higher.

A fever is one symptom of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. The spread of the virus prompted the closure of all casinos statewide in mid-March through at least Thursday.

Gov. Steve Sisolak has not yet announced whether the shutdown will once again be extended.

In a news release, Sands officials said any reservations booked in Las Vegas before June 1 have been canceled.

“We are not currently accepting reservations as we continue to assess this ever-evolving situation,” a Sands spokesman said in a statement.

“Our company will continue to adhere to guidance provided by the state of Nevada as we look to data to inform our decision on when best to open our doors to guests and team members,” the statement said.

The company’s reopening guidelines focus mainly on sanitation and social distancing practices.

Guests will be provided with protective masks, though they will not be required to wear them, under the guidelines.

Greater than normal spacing between slot machines and people playing table games will also be maintained, and casino chips in play will be disinfected every two hours.

The company plans to use ultraviolet lights to kill the virus and decontaminate shipments arriving at its loading docks, mailrooms and warehouses.

Earlier this month, Wynn Resorts released a similar set of safety guidelines, indicating it would also use thermal temperature screening technology for guests.