“This is a decision that is for them to make, and there is a very long and very dark history of the country of white people, in particular, telling our Native Americans what they should and shouldn’t do,” he said. San Diego County Supervisor Nathan Fletcher refused to question the tribes last week. The San Diego Union-Tribune - in an editorial titled, “San Diego casinos are about to gamble with patrons’ lives” - said opening is a “high-risk public health experiment” “Tribal nations are sovereign entities,” she told reporters. Wooten, who met with tribal leaders to discuss their plans, noted that casinos were in the third stage of California’s reopening plans and the state is only in the second stage, but she refused to say if the casinos were making a mistake. Wilma Wooten, San Diego County’s top public health officer, last week backed off from her earlier criticism of reopening plans. “There’s nothing to do at home,” she said. “They’re opening up because they don’t have to listen to him,” she said.ĭedra Bloxton, 51, took the day off from working at a port in Long Beach to drive two hours from Los Angeles with a friend and play the slot machines. But for some - especially older adults and people with existing health problems - it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death. Electronic signs across the casino floor told them - “Let’s Play Again!” - while also instructing them to stay six feet apart, wash hands for 20 seconds, avoid touching eyes, noses and mouths and come back another day if they were feeling sick.įor most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. Card dealers worked with up to three players at a table and there were no barriers separating them - also far less than six feet apart.Ĭustomers were required to have their foreheads scanned for temperatures. At least one public health official acknowledged tribes are sovereign authorities and not subject to state and local restrictions on operating amid the coronavirus outbreak.Įvery other slot machine was turned off but the strong turnout meant many customers were still playing less than six feet (1.8 meters) apart. The Viejas Casino & Resort was the first of three popular casinos in the San Diego area to open this week. (AP) - One of California’s largest tribal casinos reopened Monday to a large crowd as customers had their temperatures taken at the door and were ordered to wear facial coverings.

Viejas casino events calendar 2020