The Navajo Nation, which has some of the highest levels of infection from the Covid-19 pandemic in the U.S. won’t reopen its three casinos in New Mexico before at least June 7.
Most of the tribe remains closed under a stay-at-home order.
The casinos are operated by the Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise, which takes 82 percent of its employees from the tribe. These employees are still getting health benefits and paychecks, although the casinos’ doors are closed.
As of last week the Navajo Nation reported total confirmed cases at 4,253 with 146 known deaths. It also has a higher percentage of residents with existing health problems that make Covid-19 more dangerous, such as heart disease and diabetes.
