Casinos in Manila are now able to welcome a significant number of visitors. Following a decrease in COVID-19 case numbers and hospitalizations, the Philippines government opted to loosen operational limitations.
Last Friday, Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte’s spokesperson, Harry Roque, stated that the capital’s metro area had been reduced from Alert Level 3 to Level 2. With the new COVID-19 designation, casinos may significantly expand their operating capabilities across their resort complexes.
The alert level designation will remain in place until the end of the month, according to Roque, as long as there is no fresh rise in coronavirus infections. Beginning December 1, each month’s alert level will be reviewed on the 15th and 30th of each month, according to the presidential spokeswoman.
COVID-19 has finally been brought under control in Manila and the Philippines. The current reduction to Level 2 follows a decline in new coronavirus cases in the National Capital Region, from approximately 28,000 on September 9 to 2,344 new positive findings on November 5.
Casino Resorts Ready for Business
Manila has four integrated casino resorts, which together account for the majority of the gaming income generated in the Philippines each year. After more than a year and a half of closures and severely reduced capacity rules, City of Dreams, Solaire, Okada, and Resorts World are eager to reopen.
Melco Resorts, which operates City of Dreams Manila, announced its most recent capacity limitations. Indoor eating venues can seat up to 60% of the integrated resort’s fire code capacity, while outdoor dining sections can seat up to 80%.
Throughout much of 2020, the Manila casinos were subject to widespread and long-term lockdowns. The four casino resorts in Metro Manila produced gross gaming revenue (GGR) of PHP65.7 billion (US$1.31 billion) in 2020, a reduction of more than 60%. Because the four casinos were allowed to perform iGaming for its known overseas VIP clients, some of that money was produced online.
Cases dropping and Vaccines Increasing
The COVID-19 situation in Manila is finally improving. More Filipinos are receiving coronavirus vaccinations as a result of the progress. This past weekend saw the largest number of COVID-19 vaccinations ever reported in the Philippines. Between November 5 and November 7, around 462,000 Filipinos were vaccinated.
Approximately 64.1 million immunizations have been given across the country to date. In Manila, 98.9% of inhabitants in the National Capital Region have gotten at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine.
