Oregon Casino Closes For Two Weeks In Response To COVID-19 Surge

An Oregon casino is closing its doors for two weeks as the state experiences an increase in COVID-19 cases.

According to a report from Oregon Live, Chinook Winds, a tribal property in Lincoln City, is shutting down until Aug. 26. The property first stopped its operations on Aug. 12 following a record number of cases and hospitalizations in the state.

“We will continue to monitor developments and the advice of local, national and world health organizations,” representatives of the casino said in a statement. “We will make our decision when to reopen based on our ability to provide a safe environment for our team members and guests.”

Since the nation’s brick-and-mortar casino markets reopened throughout 2020, Chinook Winds became one of the first casinos to close for any reason in 2021. This was, however, a voluntary choice and not mandated by the state government, unlike 2020.

Chinook Winds’ decision to close came just under a month after Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak reinstated an indoor mask mandate that applies to Silver State casino properties. Sisolak previously lifted the mandate in mid-May after the CDC changed its recommendation and said that vaccinated individuals no longer need to wear masks in indoor settings.

The government’s health organization changed that recommendation in July once it saw that vaccinated individuals were carrying the same viral load as unvaccinated individuals.

Most Viewed Articles