MGM lays out reopening plan for its US properties

MGM Resorts International released its casino reopening plans Tuesday, with plans to screen employees and guests, a requirement for all employees to wear masks and physical distancing on property.

MGM’s plan was divided into seven parts: screening, temperature checks and training; personal protective equipment; physical distancing; hand washing and sanitization; HVAC control and air quality; incident response protocols; and digital innovations.

“Preparing for the moment we can re-open our doors, MGM Resorts focused on developing a plan that puts health and safety at the center of everything we do," acting CEO Bill Hornbuckle said in a statement. "Our ‘Seven-Point Safety Plan’ is the result of months of consultations with public health experts and outlines our comprehensive approach to welcoming guests back safely.”

“Our properties will not look the way they used to for a while, and that’s not only okay, it’s critically important. We will continue providing the hospitality experiences we are known for, but we must do so safely. We will continue working with experts and following guidance from the World Health Organization, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and government officials and regulators as we evolve these protocols based on the latest information," Hornbuckle said.

The company said they would screen employees and ask guests to "self-screen" for symptoms before coming on the property. Temperature checks would be conducted on employees upon entering the facility, but not guests.

All MGM employees would be required to wear a mask while working and guests will be encouraged to wear a mask. MGM asks guests to refrain from eating on the casino floor and reduce the time drinking on the casino floor to limit time a guest may have to remove a mask.

For physical distancing, MGM said they would clearly mark the floor wherever possible to encourage six feet of distance. In areas where distancing isn't feasible, MGM said they would install plexiglass barriers on the casino floor and in lobbies.

Additional hand washing areas outside of bathrooms would be present throughout the property, MGM said, and it added that cleaning would have an emphasis on high-touch areas with CDC and EPA-approved cleaning products.

MGM said they would enhance HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) systems and adjust accordingly as new information about the spread of the virus is available, and the role of HVAC systems in the spread.

An incident response protocol is in place if an employee or guest were to test positive for coronavirus, according to MGM, which would include contact tracing and sanitization. And in order to reduce physical touch, MGM said they plan to implement other non-touch solutions, such as digital menus accessed via QR code and contactless check-in.