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NATCHEZ — Magnolia Bluffs Casino & Hotel founder and president Kevin Preston said the casino and hotel operations of Magnolia Bluffs would ramp up a preventative action plan to limit the exposure of staff and customers to the COVID-19 virus.

“We have been reviewing all of the processes from the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), Restaurant Association, Hotel Association and other governmental bodies to ensure we are implementing procedures and processes that will limit the exposure of our team members and customers,” a Sunday news release from Magnolia Bluffs states. “Many of the processes have been put in place as early as late last week and into this week. Additionally, some will be implemented today and over the next 24 hours.”

Magnolia Bluffs officials said hotel and casino patrons and staff would find additional signage posted today that lists guidelines such as frequently washing hands, disinfecting surfaces and staying home when sick.

“Additionally, we have advised all of our team members through our pre-shift meetings to avoid close contact with peers … and more importantly if any team members are sick or have a fever to stay home until further notice,” the news release states. “Lastly, we have heightened our cleaning processes throughout both the hotel, casino and employee back of the house areas.”

Hotel officials said they have increased all of their cleaning regimens and displayed additional hand sanitizer stations located at every elevator, food area and public restroom.

Snack bowls at the hotel bar have been eliminated and only plastic cups an utensils would be used at the bar and breakfast buffets.

All housekeepers are required to wear rubber gloves when cleaning rooms and all doors, knobs, elevator buttons and other frequently used surfaces would be wiped down every 30 minutes, the news release states.

House keepers in the casino will also wipe down slot buttons, handles and table game rails and all exit and entrance doors and handles more frequently with a housekeeper staged by the entrance through weekend, high-traffic times at the casino.

The casino bars and restaurants also will utilize plastic cups and utensils, and the self-serve coffee bars have been eliminated, the news release states.

Throw away menus at all food outlets and playing cards and dice will be changed every shift or sooner.

The casino buffet will be closed today and until further notice and the Bistro menu will be offered in both the existing Bistro as well as in the buffet seating area.

“We feel by closing the buffet, it will help eliminate additional exposure of customers touching the same utensils, etc.” the news release states.