Major resorts in the Las Vegas Strip are temporarily suspending operations during the coronavirus pandemic.
Wynn Resorts is closing Wynn Las Vegas and Encore on Tuesday for two weeks “after which we will evaluate the situation,” the company said on Sunday.
MGM Resorts International is suspending operations for all Las Vegas hotels and casinos “until further notice.” Casino operations shut down on Monday and properties will close completely by Tuesday. They are not expected to reopen until at least May.
“It is now apparent that this is a public health crisis that requires major collective action if we are to slow its progression,” CEO Jim Murren said in a statement. “We will plan to reopen our resorts as soon as it (is) safe to do so and we will continue to support our employees, guests, and communities in every way that we can during this period of closure.”
“We deeply regret the strain it will cause families and our community partners, and we will do all we can to mitigate it,” he added. “When we do (reopen), we will be ready to welcome the world back to our properties.”
The company said it will continue paying full-time employees for two weeks after their last day of work. Murren said employees on a salary “should expect to continue working until further notice.” The company, which has 13 hotels and casinos on the Las Vegas Strip, will extend its health benefits for its employees through the end of June regardless of employment status.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released guidance on Sunday which said gatherings of over 50 people can contribute to the spread of the coronavirus and recommended they be canceled.
As of Monday morning, there were more than 3,770 confirmed cases of the coronavirus in the United States and 69 deaths, according to the Johns Hopkins University tracker.
