Two Florida casinos enforce mask wearing following spread of delta variant

Two casinos in Florida are now requiring masks again due to recent COVID spike. Guests and staff at Calder Casino, in Miami-Dade County, and at The Casino at Dania Beach, in Broward County, will now have to wear face coverings.

These two are the first casinos in Miami to reinstate mask wearing after a jump in coronavirus cases in the state and around the country. The rules are enforced regardless of vaccination status.

Calder Casino lists food and beverage consumption at its two restaurants and the bar inside the casino as the only exceptions for not wearing mask.

“The safety and health of our Guests and Team Members remains our top priority. We are monitoring the ongoing developments of COVID-19 with vigilance and are following the recommendations provided by the CDC and other public health experts,” stated the company on Monday.

As of last Tuesday, The Casino at Dania Beach asks guests wear face masks and follow social distancing recommendations, safety measures and rules for protection. It also lists eating and drinking as only exceptions.

“We are committed to providing the safest environment possible for our team members and guests,” states the casino on its webpage.

To further ensure safety, hand sanitizers have been installed throughout the property, guests or team members showing signs of illness will be asked to leave until they recuperate, and dedicated staff will sanitize areas of the property.

There has been no announcement yet by the largest casino owner in the area, the Seminole Tribe of Florida, reports Local 10. The tribe operates the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood, Seminole Classic Casino, Hollywood, and Seminole Casino Coconut Creek.

Many Florida casinos relaxed mask mandates and allowed voluntary face coverage at the end of May 2021. The more contagious delta variant has spread exponentially since, with the state hitting 11,515 hospitalized patients last Tuesday.