As Gov. Gretchen Whitmer eased some restrictions starting today for schools, bowling alleys, gyms and casinos -- one of the groups has decided on their own to delay.
Although they're allowed to reopen today, MGM Grand announced it will delay opening until 5 p.m. Wednesday and then will only have the sports book, slot and video poker machines available. MotorCity Casino Hotel and Greektown Casino will also reopen Wednesday, officials said
Table games at MGM will resume at 8 a.m. on Dec. 26, according to Loyie Theros, the casino's vice president and legal counsel. Per the governor's order, all food and beverage service is banned until at least Jan. 15.
The hotel will reopen at a later date, Theros said.
"We're just trying to get all of our employees retested before we bring them back to work," Theros said, adding it's just a matter of how long until testing can happen and results come back for the opening of table games. Per Whitmer's order, the casinos are allowed to operate with total capacity capped at 100, shuttered food and drink concessions and social distancing requirements in place.
That order lasts until Jan. 15, and it keeps restaurants and bars closed for in-person dining and drinking.
This comes as the United Kingdom struggles under the weight of a new strain of novel coronavirus that's reportedly responsible for up to 60% of new infections. Several countries shut their doors to the British as the new strain is studied.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the mutated virus is up to 70% more transmissible.
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Dr. Trini Mathew at Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak said there's "concern" about the information coming out of Great Britain and its impact on the vaccine is unknown. "This all will unfold for us in 2021," she said, adding that anyone scheduled to get the COVID -19 vaccine should go ahead.
"Our team is prepared to welcome back just as many guests on our casino floor as we had prior to our closing in November, socially distanced across our 150,000+ sq. ft. casino floor," said David Tsai, president of Midwest Group, MGM Resorts International, in a statement.