Smoke-free Policy Could Help Prevent Second Casino Closures
Going smoke-free could be the preferred option for the casino industry to prevent a second lockdown, a letter sent to Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak on Thursday, ahead of announcement how the state will step forward in the latest regular coronavirus cases with respect to the rises.
Indoor Smoke-Free Casino Rules
Nevada accounted for over 2,000 new cases in a single day for a second time in a week, which raised concerns of second lockout in an effort to flatten the curve once again. An innovative option has been created by one advocacy group, Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights (ANR), proposing to all casinos to implement a smoke-free indoor program.
ANR encouraged him in a letter to the governor Thursday to allow casinos to prohibit indoor smoking, as it would be a much safer option for them than to be closed again. The group argued that implementing an indoor smoke-free program might be the perfect option for keeping people safe without slowing down the economy.
The idea compares the desire to hold the mask 100% of the time when in which the need to smoke collides and suggests going out for a cigarette might be the solution to the problem. The ANR is proposing to the governor for a second time to enact the smoke-free indoor scheme, having made the request back in July when casinos started reopening.
Smoke Makes Virus Transmission Faster
Cynthia Hallet, ANR's President and CEO, argued that the infection adds an additional dimension when it is infectious and travels through the respiratory droplets in addition to the harmful aspect added to second-hand smoke in general.
Removing the mask to place a cigarette in the mouth is exposure to droplets that can very easily carry the virus, while exposure to smoke allows people to cough further and thereby raises the chance of infection for others because of the tendency of droplets to migrate more when combined with smoke particles.
Park MGM, following its reopening in September, was the first resort on the Las Vegas strip to become smoke-free, while the recently opened Circa Resort and Casino offer all options. Officials from the new gaming property say a new system draws 100% of the air from outside the house, providing air ventilation that has not been seen in any property before now.
Opinions among casino guests differ as some would like to have indoor smoke-free environment, while others would enjoy casinos as the last place where smoking is allowed.
