Auckland headquartered SkyCity Entertainment has closed its casino and entertainment facilities within its home city as added COVID-19 restrictions become imposed on New Zealand.
The implementation of physical distancing and hygiene requirements at its Hamilton and Queenstown properties have also taken place after the country recorded its first new cases of coronavirus in 102 days.
SkyCity’s Auckland hotels will remain open to accommodate existing guests currently staying in-house pending further advice from the New Zealand Government.
These measures were implemented in response to a government announcement that, following the discovery of new cases of COVID-19 in the country’s largest city, the pandemic’s alert level was increased to three in Auckland and two for the rest of the country until midnight on 14 August 2020.
Imposition of a three-day lockdown saw residents in Auckland given guidance to remain at home, a ban imposed on large gatherings and non essential businesses close, with some social-distancing restrictions being reintroduced in the rest of the country.
The firm assures that it will provide further updates as new material information becomes available.
Graeme Stephens, SkyCity CEO, noted: “SkyCity is fully complying with this latest update from the New Zealand Government. SkyCity is well prepared to respond quickly to these changes and is in a strong financial position to withstand the financial impacts of these temporary restrictions.”
Last month SkyCity rolled-out plans for a “key pillar” of its $330m Adelaide transformation, with ‘The District’ project to feature Australia’s first fully functional microbrewery within a casino.
Announced following a “historic partnership” alongside Pirate Life, The District at SkyCity intends to bring together all venues on level one, incorporating a poker zone, sports bar, the Pirate Life microbrewery, live entertainment, and Bistro.
The company’s wider expansion project is expected to create approximately 1,000 jobs throughout construction, and 700 ongoing roles upon completion, with recruitment for some roles having already commenced and to continue through to mid 2021.
