Spike in COVID-19 cases forces Rivers Casino Pittsburgh to close again

The Rivers Casino in the Pittsburgh area is once again in the dark as the second wave of potentially deadly COVID-19 infections forced local authorities to issue closure orders for all non-essential businesses, including casinos. The Rivers Casino in the Steel City closed its doors just after midnight last Friday as local officials struggle to tackle increasing caseload of COVID-19 pandemic.

The Rivers Casino, which resumed operations on 9th of June following Pennsylvania’s months-long COVID-19 caused shutdown. Within a month of the reopening of the facility, Allegheny County officials ordered it and other Pittsburgh area gaming and entertainment facilities to close again for a week so that they could get some time to tackle the recent spike in the increasing number of cases of the deadly infection that has claimed thousands of lives across the United States.

In addition to the Rush Street Gaming property, the Allegheny County Health Department directed all bars, taverns, restaurants and nightclubs close. The health department declared that any facility or event attracting 25 or more individuals will remain closed for a week to help curb the second wave of corona virus pandemic.

According to a statement given by Health Department Director Debra Bogen, more than 700 new COVID-19 cases originated from June 20th to 30th. An investigation into the new cases also revealed that some of infected people had visited more than three dozen different bars and nightclubs in the county. Nearly fifteen venues were named by more than one infected persons.

Bogen stressed that her department’s decision asking bars, nightclubs and other entertainment facilities to suspend operations again was not easy but it was necessary to protect and preserve the health of county residents.

Speaking on the topic, Bogen said, “I am charged with protecting, promoting, and preserving the health and well-being of all county residents, particularly the most vulnerable. This is not a decision that I’ve made lightly but I believe it is necessary based on the new cases in the county and the community spread that is occurring.”

Confirming its closure, the Rivers Casino, which is state’s largest gaming facility with more than 2,600 slots, said it would remain closed for the next week as the health and well-being of its employees, guests and the community was its number-one priority.

Allegheny County, the Keystone State’s second-largest county with a population of 1.2 million, had reported 2,382 COVID-19 infections through June 26th. Just a week later, the number of infections jumped to 3,280, forcing health authorities to announce new closure orders for non-essential businesses.