TOWER— Minnesota’s COVID case count is now the highest in the nation and that has prompted Fortune Bay Resort to implement a mask-wearing requirement for all guests and staff. The requirement is in effect for all people, regardless of their vaccination status.
The Bois Forte Development Corporation is also implementing a mask requirement for all of its businesses, which include the Y Store, the Ledge Liquor Store, WELY and KBFT radio stations, the Wilderness restaurant, and the Nett Lake Convenience Store.
“We need to do this to keep our community and our employees safe,” said Fortune Bay General Manager Mayan Beltran during a meeting with the Bois Forte Tribal Council and government employees Tuesday. “Until this trend turns around, we need to make decisions like this.”
Bois Forte Tribal Chairwoman Cathy Chavers concurred.
“It’s the decision we have to make,” said Chavers. “I am down at Treasure Island for a conference right now, and they all require wearing masks, too.”
Fortune Bay has opted to pause all larger gatherings at the facility until further notice.
“I believe until this surge stabilizes, we need to stop doing events for safety,” said Beltran.
The tribal council agreed and will monitor COVID-19 activity before revisiting the decision.
The decision comes as recent case counts in Minnesota have reached levels not seen at any previous point in the pandemic.
The news comes just days after Fortune Bay announced winter hours of operation, which include closing the resort and blackjack tables on Mondays and Tuesdays.
Effective next Monday, the Sunset Steakhouse winter hours will be Thursday through Sunday. Additionally, the Gold Mine Grill hours will be expanded from 9 a.m. until close seven days a week.
Casino hours will be 7 a.m. until 2 a.m. Monday through Thursday and open 24 hours Friday and Saturday, before closing at 2 a.m. Monday.
Beltran met with staff Tuesday to start getting the message out as quickly as possible. This will include deploying an email blast, putting it on social media, and updating signage property-wide, including the digital sign on Hwy. 169.
“It’s disheartening that we have to make this decision because cases had been going down,” said Beltran, “but now that Minnesota is leading the nation with the most cases, it was something that we needed to do and act swiftly upon.”