Rivers Casino closes due to caution regarding coronavirus

The Rivers casino on Pittsburgh’s North Side will close for the next two weeks.

The casino announced at about 9 p.m. Friday that it would close as of midnight Sunday, for 14 days. The process will begin Sunday night and continue into Monday morning.

“Although there have been no known cases of covid-19 at the property, we are suspending operations out of an abundance of caution and to promote the social distancing recommended by health officials,” Rivers Casino said in a statement.

While the casino will be closed, the company said it will continue normal payroll for employees during the temporary closure.

“We will continue to closely monitor the ever-changing information related to the coronavirus outbreak,” the casino said.

Although the casino will be closed to the public, it said it still will need some workers to help during this closure and reopening periods.

The temporary closure of the Rivers Casino is the third one in Pennsylvania to suspend operations because of the coronavirus, said Richard McGarvey, state gaming commission spokesman. Harrah’s in Philadelphia will close this weekend and the Valley Forge casino closed Friday, McGarvey said.

At the Meadows Casino in North Strabane, Washington County, all concerts and live events have been postponed or canceled.

Meadows Casino owner Penn National Gaming, which owns 19 facilities, said it has closed or is in the process of closing buffets at all of its properties.

In an attempt to prevent the spread of the virus, the casino has increased the number of hand-sanitizing stations on the gambling floor and in back-of-house common areas and are providing hand wipes for self-service sanitation of surfaces.

Richard McGarvey, a state gaming commission spokesman, could not be reached for comment late Friday night about the status of other casinos.