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Caesars Palace utility porter dies after being diagnosed with COVID-19

by Madge Cutts (2020-08-14)


The family of a Caesars Palace employee who died after contracting coronavirus blames the Las Vegas casino for forcing him to return to work and failing to protect him and others on the job from the virus.

Adolfo Fernandez, 51, died on Wednesday at Sunrise Hospital in Las Vegas - just two days after he was diagnosed with COVID-19.

His family told Fernandez's daughter, Irma, works as a housekeeper at the Venetian, another casino located on the famous Las Vegas Strip.

She expressed anger on Friday over what she says was the failure of Caesars to protect her father. Adolfo Fernandez, 51, died on Wednesday at Sunrise Hospital in Las Vegas - just two days after he was diagnosed with COVID-19 His family said he worked as a utility porter at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. He was diagnosed with COVID-19 on Monday and died in a hospital just two days later‘I am going to fight for justice because he told me constantly that they are not using the correct safety precautions at work,' Fernandez said.‘They are not protecting their employees.'Caesars Entertainment, the parent company which runs Caesars Palace and other Las Vegas resorts, confirmed this weekend that one of its employees died of COVID-19.‘Sadly, we can confirm that one of our colleagues has passed away after testing positive for COVID-19,' the statement read.‘We are heartbroken by this development and are expressing our deepest sympathies to their family and friends.‘While we have not been able to determine how the employee contracted the virus, once the employee informed us about testing positive, the company implemented its protocols to determine who had been in close proximity with this individual at the direction of the Southern Nevada Health District.‘As a result, a small number of employees were identified to be in this category and are now on paid leave while self-isolating.‘None of these individuals, to our knowledge, have tested positive at this time.‘They will not return to work until they obtain a negative test result.'Irma Fernandez said her father suffered from a severe case of work-related stress.After returning to work, he started to complain of body aches. Eventually, he contracted coronavirus, which then attacked vital organs.‘Little by little he was fading away,' she said. ‘His death was so painful.' Caesars Palace on Wednesday implemented a policy requiring guests at its casinos and resorts to wear masks. A face mask is seen above being worn by the statue of Julius Caesar at the entrance to Caesars Palace in Las Vegas on Thursday Guests arrived at Caesars Palace on the Las Vegas Strip after the property opened for the first time in 78 days on June 4. They were met with a new look casino with new health and safety measures