Some Southern California casinos are changing their mask policies to combat a rising COVID-19 infection rate.
Pechanga Resort Casino in the Temecula area is urging that guests who are vaccinated against the novel coronavirus wear face coverings while indoors and requires unvaccinated guests to wear them as of Friday, July 30.
San Manuel Casino in Highland is adopting the same guidance, which goes into effect at 8 a.m. Saturday, July 31, according to a post on its website.
Team members are required to wear masks at both resorts, whether they are vaccinated or not.
Pechanga made the announcement through an email and social media posts on Friday, July 30, and also updated its COVID-19 policies on its website.
Previously, guests who had been vaccinated against the virus had been allowed to not wear masks on the honor system.
Pechanga and other Southern California casinos relaxed their mask policies in tandem with the state’s opening up on June 15. Since then, a new and more infectious strain of the virus has spread across the country and caused the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the State of California to recommend indoor mask-wearing, even for vaccinated people.
The step back comes as San Manuel is completing the first phase of a major expansion and preparing to open a new 24-hour restaurant.
