At 2 a.m., The three properties of the Gila River Hotels & Casinos were closed for two weeks.
The Arizona Republic's repeated requests to confirm the number of employees who have tested positive for COVID-19 were declined by the leaders of the hotels and casinos.
Lone Butte and Wild Horse Pass casinos are in the same area.
A security guard at Lone Butte Casino died of problems related to COVID-19, his family said.
The casinos have been closed before. Gila River's three casinos shut down because of COVID-19 in March. On May 15, the casinos reopened, the same day Arizona lifted its stay-at- home order.
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Patrons will be encouraged to wear masks when the casino reopens in May.
During the two week shut down, casino officials will evaluate its current safety standards after getting feedback from its community and team members.
According to his family, Robert Washington, a security guard at Lone Butte Casino, died in a hospital from COVID-19 related issues.
Washington came back to work in May. He was worried about the safety measures at the casino.
He said it was terrible the day after reopening. There was a line near the corner. The majority of the people were not wearing masks.
Employees at the Gila River Hotels & Casinos were only required to wear protective gear. The customers were encouraged to wear masks. Washington said that her father was exposed because of this.
The officials told The Republic that the policy was strengthened last week.
Public health needs to be protected.
The governor said that the casino employees and customers will be protected during the temporary shutdown.
"Like our sister tribes and businesses all over Arizona, we have tried to do what is best for all, while processing new information and new guidelines about the epidemic with little in the way of definitive guidance."
The mandatory mask policy was put in place last week.
New safety measures will be implemented when the casinos are closed.
Disinfecting procedures are done.
Measures to distance people from one another.
A health check.
The protocols are being tested.
Guidelines being masked.
All employees will be paid in full throughout the closing and will get medical benefits, according to the statement.
Let us know if you have a question or tip. The reporter can be reached by email at sasha.hupka@arizonarepublic.com or on social media.
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The article was originally published in the Arizona Republic.
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