March 17, 2020 12:00 p.m.
Seven Feathers Casino Resort has temporarily closed for two weeks.
A release from the Cow Creek Band of the Umpqua Tribe of Indians said its board of directors held an emergency session on Monday and voted unanimously to declare a state of emergency in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The release said the board directed casino management to begin implementing plans to temporarily suspend all operations at the resort in Canyonville.
It said the direction is consistent with national and state guidance to reduce large gatherings as part of all efforts to curve the trend of transmission of COVID-19 during this global pandemic.
Cow Creek Tribal Chairman Dan Courtney said “this pandemic is a national public health crisis that requires all of us to unify across all levels of government to protect the health and well-being of our Tribes and communities”. He said while Cow Creek is “a sovereign entity governed by our own laws, we are committed to this community and doing our part to help contain this virus so that we don’t experience the same loss we are witnessing in other parts of the world”.
The restaurants on Tribal property were closed Tuesday morning.
The Tribe will provide emergency paid leave and benefits for casino resort employees during the temporary closure.