New York: Oneida casinos and hotels join mask mandate amid rise in Covid cases

The Oneida Nation is set to enforce a mask mandate at its casinos and hotels beginning Tuesday, the tribe has announced. The decision encompasses all of its properties and follows a statewide mandate issued by New York Governor Kathy Hochul.

The requirement applies to the following venues: Turning Stone Resort Casino, Point Place Casino, Yellow Brick Road Casino, plus all hotels. It will also be mandatory to wear masks on The Lake House, Maple Leaf Markets, and SavOn convenience stores.

“The Oneida Indian Nation has prioritized the health and safety of guests, employees and its members since the outbreak of the pandemic,” the tribe said in a statement. “While vaccinations and booster shots remain the most effective way to curb the effects of COVID-19, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has determined that face coverings remain an important tool for preventing the spread of the virus in communities with substantial and high rates of transmission.”

Masks will not be required at restaurants and bars while people are seated and eating or drinking, or at Exit 33, an entertainment complex at Turning Stone Resort which already requires proof of vaccination to enter. The Turning Stone Event Center and the Turning Stone Showroom, which also require vaccination, won’t require masks either.

Guests in public areas such as bars and on gaming floors are allowed to drink with a straw beneath their mask. A smoking ban will be introduced on the gaming floor until further notice, although designated outdoor smoking areas will be offered to guests.

The decision updates Oneida Nation Enterprises’ (ONE) Safer Together Health and Safety Plan initiative. Face masks are set to be mandatory not only for guests but employees as well in all indoor public areas.

Proof of vaccination can be demonstrated at Oneida Nation venues by showing the vaccination record, along with a government-issued photo ID. Turning Stone Resort Casino will accept proof of vaccination by guests showing a physical vaccination card or digital photo of the card from a smartphone. The NY State Excelsior Pass is also accepted, along with other digital health apps recognized by states, cities or nations.

White the Oneidas are not required to follow state mandates due to being a sovereign nation, the tribe is still mandating masks as Covid-19 cases and hospitalization across the region increase, in an effort to prove its responsibility towards local communities.

New York State’s new mask policy, similarly to the Oneida Nation one, requires all individuals to wear protective face covering while at indoor places or businesses, unless venues require patrons to show proof of vaccination for entry.