An employee at Clearwater Casino in Suquamish has tested positive for COVID-19.
Port Madison Enterprises, which owns the casino, received a call Oct. 31 that an employee who typically works in the table games section had tested positive for the coronavirus after a short stint in an area hospital due to other illnesses. The employee had last worked in the casino Oct. 23.
The employee was reportedly tested for COVID upon admittance to the hospital, with that initial test being negative. Upon the employee’s release from the hospital Oct. 30, that second test came back positive.
While this case has not been confirmed by the Kitsap Public Health District or any other public health official, other than the employee’s doctor, PME and Clearwater have been following their own COVID-19 safety precautions.
All table games have been thoroughly sanitized using a product called BioProtect, which not only sanitizes but maintains a protective barrier on treated surfaces. Employee areas of the casino have been deep cleaned, and the employee who contracted the virus must quarantine for 14 days, test negative, show no symptoms of COVID and test negative before returning to work.
“Clearwater Casino Resort takes seriously the safety and health of staff and guests, and — after being closed for two months to assure we could take all necessary precautions,” chief executive officer for PME Rion Ramirez said.
When the casino reopened in May after being shut down due to COVID, like many other locations it had new requirements for guests and employees.
For example, the casino is only operating at 60% capacity, guests are required to wear masks and have their temperatures checked as well as employees. Acrylic barriers have been placed at all locations where interacting with people is likely, such as table games, the front desk and cashier stations.
“Clearwater Casino Resort has been completely cleaned and disinfected and the frequency of cleaning and sanitizing has been increased in all public spaces with an emphasis on frequent contact surfaces,” Ramirez said.
