White Mountain Apache Casino
- Details
- By Native News Online Staff
The White Mountain Apache Reservation once included the San Carlos Apache Reservation. These two reservations were separated by Congressional Act in 1897, and remain separated today. The White Mountain Apache Tribe operates a casino on its Arizona reservation. They are surrounded by the vast White Mountains, the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest, and the White Mountain Apache Indian Reservation. The Hon-Dah Casino Resort, a short drive away and features gambling, hotel rooms, entertainment and an RV park. Located in east-central Arizona, the White Mountain Apache Tribe presides over one of the largest tribal lands in the nation. The high desert is teeming with life, boasting world-class elk hunting, fishing and other year-round outdoor recreation that deliver high on the adrenaline chart. 5 East Sycamore Street Whiteriver, Arizona 85941 Phone (928) 338-4942 FAX (928) 338-4565.
WHITERIVER, Ariz. — The White Mountain Apache Tribe voluntarily suspended operations of its Hon-dah Casino on Sunday night, Oct. 18 after two employees tested positive for Covid-19. The attached Hon-dah Hotel was closed on Monday, Oct. 19 at checkout time.
The Hon-dah Resort Casino's website says the facility will be closed for two weeks.
A news release distributed by the tribe said the closing of the facility became necessary because two of the casino’s employees tested positive for Covid-19. Other casino employees, who came into contact with the two, entered into a 14-day quarantine period. As a result, the casino and hotel will have a staffing shortage to adequately operate the facility.
White Mountain Apache Tribe Casino
Tribal officials said most casino employees received a Covid-19 test last week. Employees who did not get tested will be tested soon, the casino said.
“We are acting swiftly to protect the health, safety, and welfare of our employees and our customers. At Hon-Dah, we put our people and our community’s needs first,” Hon-Dah Casino general manager Brent Kurth said in a press release.
The White Mountain Tribe’s public health protocols require that employees exposed to known positive cases of Covid-19 must self-quarantine for 14 days even if they test negative. This recommendation is consistent with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to prevent further spreading of the virus.
The tribe said no cases among customers or guests have been identified. However, one of the staff members who tested positive was in contact with employees who serve the public.
Hon-Dah Casino management anticipates to resume normal business operations once public health officials and management believe it is safe to do so for employees and guests.
During the initial outbreak of Covid-19 across the country in March and April, tribal casinos voluntarily closed to ensure the health and safety of their communities, customers and staff. Many remained closed until early summer and instituted safety measures to stop the spread of Covid-19.
It's December 2020, can you help...
We’re asking our readers for a little help as 2020 draws to a close. If you can afford it, we hope you’ll consider a one-time donation of $5 or more to help fund our Indigenous-led coverage of important news throughout Indian Country. Covering the news hasn’t been easy this year, but we believe it’s been critically important given the changes and upheaval we’ve experienced — from COVID-19 and the 2020 Census, to issues of racial equity, efforts to suppress the Native vote, and far too many stories of Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls.
Because we believe everyone in Indian Country deserves equal access to news and commentary pertaining to them, their relatives and their communities, the story you’ve just finished was free — and we want to keep it that way, for all readers. But we hope it inspires you to make a gift to Native News Online so that we can continue publishing more stories that make a difference to Native people, whether they live on or off the reservation. Your donation will help us keep producing quality journalism and elevating Indigenous voices. Any contribution of any amount, big or small, gives us a better, stronger future and allows us to remain a force for change. Donate to Native News Online today and support independent Indigenous journalism. Thank you.