GILPIN COUNTY, Colo. (KDVR) — The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has approved Gilpin County’s request for a variance that will allow casinos to reopen.
The variance approves slot machines to be operational.
“An evaluation of the appropriateness to open table games will happen in three weeks,” a spokesperson from Gilpin County said.
The opening date for casinos will be June 17. This will give casinos time to meet the requirements set forth in the variance and the local health order. Additionally, this 10-day period will allow time for all operators to call back furloughed employees as well as sufficiently implement safety procedures and protocols.
The following guidelines will have to be followed by casinos when they reopen:
- In order to achieve 6 feet social distancing, the limit pursuant to this variance is 50 percent of the posted occupancy code limit ensuring a minimum 28 square feet per person not to exceed more than 175 people at any given time in a confined indoor space, and 250 people in any outdoor setting.
- Employees and contracted workers must be monitored daily for symptoms, and symptomatic employees must be excluded from the workplace and isolated until they are fever-free for 72 hours, other symptoms have improved, and at least 10 days have passed since they became symptomatic.
- Employers must provide accommodations for employees at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19.
- Employers must have signage on doors telling guests that are experiencing COVID-like symptoms not to enter
- Bus systems used to transport patrons must be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected in between rides and at the end of the day
The final casino requirements and the local public health order are posted here.