Wisconsin tribal casino uses UV light to fight coronavirus

by Manthra Koliyer Posted on 21 Aug, 2020

Wisconsin, a state in the US is home to the Wisconsin Tribal casinos and they have come up with a unique technique to curb the spread of coronavirus. The tribe consists of a 4,900-acre reservation area and they are yet to report a confirmed COVID-19 case. They closed their casino in mid-March and are one of the few tribal properties in the country that still hasn’t reopened.

Crandon, home to, The Mole Lake casino and Lodge, a property of the Sokaogon Chippewa Community, installed an ultra-violet light system in the ventilation ducts of the casino to fight the virus before the air is filtered back into the casino again. A California-based company, UltraViolet Devices Inc. has installed UV-C germicidal lamps inside the HVAC system duct work. A spokesman from the company, Will Gerard said, “The system is extremely effective at destroying viruses. As the air passes the UV-C light, it kills more than 99% of the virus immediately. The air is recirculated to the HVAC system from the casino space, therefore cleaning the air in the casino.”

The Potawatomi tribe, which is home to one of the most popular casinos in the state, and home to a World Series of Poker Circuit stop in Milwaukee. They have also been using a similar system for the company since a few years. Initially, the systems were installed to help eliminate cigarette smoke, but now, it has been helpful to curb the spread of the virus. Dave Brien, casino facilities director at the Potawatomi tribe said, “Most systems only filters the incoming air, but during a pandemic like this, it’s the air inside that you want to filter. We have been filtering the air to the level of a basic surgical suite, and this could be the reasons why there has not been a single case of COVID-19 stemming from his casino.” 

Researchers at Columbia University have found that UV light kills 99.9% of seasonal coronaviruses present in airborne droplets. JetBlue Airways had announced it in July itself that they were using UV light technology to disinfect aircrafts. Given the nature of the virus, reopening hotels and casinos was a major concern for government officials. For more updates on casinos, keep reading GutshotMagazine.com. 

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