Sands China has described as misleading a video circulating online this week which shows rows of closely aligned mattresses covering the floor of a function room at The Venetian Macao alleged to be accommodation supplied to staff members during Macau’s 15-day casino closure.
Moved to issue a statement addressing the claims, Sands said the video was in fact old footage of a temporary rest area the company set up for on-duty staff during one of the two category 10 typhoons to have lashed the city in recent years – Typhoon Hato in August 2017 and Typhoon Mangkhut in September 2018.
It also stressed that staff members in need of temporary housing during the Coronavirus outbreak had been provided with an array of welfare measures, including hotel accommodation.
“Sands China expresses concern over the misleading information about the company which has been circulating and subsequently causing unnecessary anxiety among the public, at a time when the company is fully committed to its virus-fighting efforts,” Sands said. “Sands China wishes to clarify that the rumor is not true, and reserves the right to take legal action.”

The statement was accompanied by two photos of the ballroom depicted in the video and a caption reading, “The current state of the venue in question is pictured above.”
“Sands China reiterates that the company has implemented a series of preventive measures across its properties in order to safeguard the health and safety of guests and team members, in accordance with guidelines from the Health Bureau and the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau,” Sands said.