Mgm Casino Maryland Opening
— MGM National Harbor (@MGMNatlHarbor) June 23, 2020 MGM's reopening plan includes limited hours and social distancing measures. Retailers on site will be open daily from 10 a.m. UPDATE - JUNE 23: MGM National Harbor has announced an opening date, safety protocols and more. Read the article here!
© Shutterstock MGM National Harbor announced that it will reopen on June 29.
NATIONAL HARBOR, MD — MGM National Harbor is reopening its doors. The casino announced Tuesday that it would reopen at 6 a.m. on June 29 with precautionary measures in place. Maryland Live! Casino and Hotel in Hanover also plans to open that day.
MGM's reopening plan includes limited hours and social distancing measures. Retailers on site will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. The business center will be open Mondays through Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. Some of MGM's restaurants will have limited hours. Customers can check the hours of each restauranthere.
All staff will be required to wear masks. Employees will have their temperatures checked and symptoms screened before each shift. MGM will 'strongly encourage' guests to wear masks in public areas. The casino will offer a free mask to anybody who needs one, however.
Floor guides will help guests follow social distancing measures. The casino will install plexiglass barriers where close interactions are common.
Guests can now check in without the help of concierge. A mobile app will allow visitors to confirm ID, pay and use a digital room key. In-person check-in will still be available.
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Some dealers at MGMNational Harbor say between positive coronavirus cases and quarantines, thecasino is losing employees.
One dealer told News4she is in quarantine after interacting with a COVID-19 positive coworker.
“Unfortunately, I had comeinto contact with somebody who tested positive for it,” she said.
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Another told News4 heis afraid to return to work after finding out 12 other dealers are positive.
“These are theconfirmed cases of the people that admitted it,” he said.
MGM National Harbor President Jorge Perez shared the problem with the Maryland House Ways and Means Committee during a briefing on how COVID-19 is impacting state gaming last week.
“I can tell youparticularly here at National hHrbor we have a lot of open positions, and it'sbeen a challenge to get employees to come back,” he said.
MGM is operating at 50%capacity under coronavirus restrictions but is having a hard time maintainingthe 1,600 employees necessary to operate.
“Some which have comeback have opted to sit on the sidelines,” Perez said. “They just don't feelcomfortable working in the new conditions.”
The casino released a seven-point plan before reopening that included temperature checks for employees, mandatory masks for everyone, social distancing, and enhanced hand washing and cleaning.
“MGM National Harbor prioritizes the health and safety of our employees and our guests,' MGM said in a statement. 'We work hard to implement our Seven Point Safety Plan which includes mandatory masks for all those on property, COVID-19 tests, and daily screening. We will continue to follow the guidelines provided by the CDC and local health officials, and make adjustments to our strategy as new information about the virus comes to light.”
“Many of the dealersare afraid to go back because they know that they’re not going to be up to parwith the standards they supposedly put in place,” one dealer said.
The dealers say manyare unsure about their futures at the casino.
Mgm Casino Maryland Opening
“A lot of people haveresigned because they don't want to come back,” one dealer said.
Afterhearing all of Maryland's casinos present to the state, it was clear that MGMNational Harbor has had the highest number of cases of employees impacted byCOVID-19.
The casino is offeringfree testing near the casino for employees who need it and it's also offeringsome paid time off for those who need to quarantine or are awaiting testresults.
Mgm Casino At National Harbor Maryland Opening
MGM is not confirminghow many of its more than 1,600 employees have tested positive for COVID-19.