Chinook Winds Casino Resort shuts down for 2 weeks after a rise in cases of the Delta variant

The Siletz Tribal Council announced Thursday that the Chinook Winds Casino Resort in Lincoln City will close for 2 weeks due to concerns about the Delta variant of COVID-19 and the record numbers of hospitalized patients. The property is expected to reopen August 26.

A statement on the company’s website specified that operations for the casino, hotel and golf course will remain suspended from 6 p.m. on the 12th until the 26th, in the interest of public safety. 

“Despite the progress we have made to vaccinate our team, their families, and the community, increases in cases in the county and state have led us to make the difficult decision to close our operations until August 26, 2021. We will pay our team members through this two-week closure. We look forward to welcoming our guests and team members back as soon as it’s safe to do so”, said General Manager Michael S. Fisher in a statement, according to KGW 8.

While 45.9% of the Indigenous population in Oregon has received at least one dose, there are still more than 35,000 Indigenous people who need to receive their vaccine to reach the 80% benchmark the state has set. 

“We will pay our team members through this two-week closure. We look forward to welcoming our guests and team members back as soon as it’s safe to do so,” Fisher concluded.