MARQUETTE – The Keweenaw Bay Indian Community has decided to temporarily close non-essential tribal government offices and both of its Ojibwa casinos in Marquette and Baraga beginning at 11:59 p.m. Saturday and running through April 12.

The tribal council will continue to assess the situation as more updates of the pandemic unfold, and casino and government employees will be compensated during this temporary closure to help ensure financial security, according to a Facebook post released by Ojibwa Casinos Friday.

The KBIC made the decision after consulting with public health leaders at the tribal, state and federal level, the post states.

“It has become clear that the coronavirus disease can have drastic impacts, but the community is taking bold measures to protect the health of every member of the community. We can proactively work to stop the spread of this disease, and we will continue to work with leaders at every level moving forward,” Tribal Council President Chris Swartz of the KBIC said in the Facebook post.