When Will Michigan Casinos Reopen During COVID-19 Pandemic?

Could you please rewrite the sentence you would like me to rewrite?

Last week, the reopening of the Island Resort and Casino by the Hannahville Indian Community in Michigan stirred up quite a buzz.

After experiencing a false start and holding a meeting with state power brokers, the tribe has now set its sights on Saturday as the chosen date for Michigan’s inaugural casino reopening. This comes after nearly eight weeks of the state’s casinos being shut down.

Due to the severe impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which affected Michigan more severely than other states, all 26 casinos in the state were closed by March 22nd.

State leaders are currently devising optimal strategies as death and infection rates continue to decline.

Opening up sooner rather than later is the preference of certain individuals within the gaming industry in the state.

Promising COVID-19 trends statewide

With a death toll surpassing 4,700 on Wednesday, Michigan stands as one of the states hit hardest by the pandemic, ranking fourth in terms of fatalities.

For nearly two weeks, the most recent data has shown that less than 10% of COVID-19 tests have been positive, and Wednesday marked the fifth consecutive day with less than 500 new cases statewide.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s stay-at-home restrictions have prompted the organization of a third protest at the Michigan Capitol in Lansing, scheduled for Thursday.

The current order by Whitmer is scheduled to end on May 28th. Greektown Casino-Hotel, MGM Grand Detroit, and MotorCity Casino in Detroit will remain closed until at least that date, while several tribal casinos in the state have also adopted Whitmer’s reopening timeline.

Reopening announcement forced letter, meeting

According to a report from Bridge Magazine, state officials responded promptly after Island Resort and Casino declared its reopening on May 8.

Customers or employees of tribal casinos that opened while a stay-at-home order was in effect were cautioned by a letter from the office of Attorney General Dana Nessel, stating that possible actions could be taken against them.

The opening of the Hannahville tribe has been postponed until Saturday. Additionally, a conference call has been arranged this week between tribal leaders and state officials to discuss the reopening plans.

This week, a representative from the biggest tribal casino in the state has officially verified the occurrence of the meeting.

Plans for the reopening of Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort in Mount Pleasant will be developed in collaboration between the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe and the governor, according to Frank Cloutier.

Upper Peninsula casinos trending toward opening

There are a total of 11 closed casinos in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, and Island Resort and Casino is one of them.

Below is an updated list providing information on the current status of each facility:

• The Bay Mills Resort & Casinos in Brimley have announced that they will extend their shutdown until the end of May. Both casinos, operated by the Bay Mills Indian Community, will reassess the situation as June approaches to determine the appropriate time to reopen. Initially, the casino had temporarily closed for review, which was originally planned for Saturday.
• The five Kewadin Casinos situated in Christmas, Hessel, Manistique, Sault Ste. Marie, and St. Ignace will remain closed until June 1st.

• Harris’ Island Resort and Casino is preparing for a Saturday reopening.
• Since its scheduled reopening on May 1 was postponed on April 25, there has been no news regarding the opening of Northern Waters Casino Resort in Watersmeet. However, it is worth noting that the facility’s golf course remains open, and their sports bar is currently providing takeout services.
• The reopening dates for Ojibwa Casinos in Baraga and Marquette have not been determined yet.

No Lower Peninsula casinos have reopening dates

As of Wednesday, none of the 12 tribal casinos located south of the Mackinac Bridge had announced any reopening dates.

The most recent information:

• There is currently no set date for the reopening of FireKeepers Casino in Battle Creek.
• The reopening date for Four Winds Casinos in Dowagiac, Hartford, and New Buffalo is yet to be determined.
• The reopening date for Gun Lake Casino in Wayland has not been determined yet.
• The reopening date for Leelanau Sands Casino & Lodge in Peshawbestown has not been determined yet, but safety guidelines have been issued.

• Little River Casino Resort in Manistee, following an executive order by the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, will remain closed until May 28 as a state of emergency has been declared.
• In a statement released on May 1, General Manager Ron Olson of Odawa Casinos in Mackinaw City and Petoskey acknowledged the existing stay-at-home order issued by the governor and stated that they would comply with the order by remaining closed until further notice.
• The reopening date for Saganing Eagles Landing Casino & Hotel in Standish has not been determined yet.
• A reopening date has not been established for Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort in Mount Pleasant.
• Currently, Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel in Williamsburg does not have a confirmed reopening date; however, they have released safety guidelines.

MGM Grand Detroit unveils safety precautions

Whitmer holds authority over the trio of commercial casinos in Detroit, and their reopening is not permitted until after May 28.

Nevertheless, in accordance with the governor’s Safe Start plan, the three casinos will commence operations only once they have successfully navigated through the ongoing “Flattening” phase.

The Seven-Point Safety Plan, released by MGM Resorts International, will be followed by the Detroit casino for the time being.

Included in the list are the following points:

1. Screening, Temperature Checks, and Employee Training
2. Compulsory Masks & Personal Protective Equipment
3. Physical distancing refers to maintaining a safe physical space between individuals to minimize the risk of spreading infectious diseases.
4. Enhanced Sanitation and Handwashing
5. HVAC Controls and Indoor Air Quality
6. Protocols for Incident Response
7. Innovations in the digital realm

Can you please rephrase it?