Public health officials identified two locations Friday that were potential exposure sites for coronavirus, including Turtle Creek Casino and the Torch Lake sandbar over the Fourth of July weekend.

Turtle Creek Casino was named as an exposure site on July 5 from 8:30pm to 9:15 at the blackjack tables. According to Turtle Creek Casino, security staff confirmed the guest was temperature tested at the gaming floor entrance and was wearing a mask while on property while watching other guests play blackjack on the non-smoking west side of the building.

“While exposure to our employees and guests is limited because of our mask requirements, plexi-shield precautions, social distancing, continual and deep cleaning, and maximized ventilation systems, we want to inform the public as soon as possible to ensure safety on everyone's behalf,” says Michael Schrader, CEO of Grand Traverse Resort & Casinos. “We are working with the Health Department on contract tracing with any employees and guests that may have been in this area. They are recommending self-monitoring for 14 days through July 19, 2020 with symptom and temperature checks.”

Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel will continue to remain open. “In order to uphold our rigorous deep cleaning protocol, we close the casino nightly from 3am to 7am, including the night of July 5 when the guest was on property,” says Schrader. “Our readiness plan has prepared us in all of our departments, and we appreciate our staff and guests for their support and compliance of all our safety procedures.” Anyone who was present at the above location, date, and time is asked to self-monitor for 14 days from the exposure date for symptoms daily. If you develop symptoms or seek testing, you must quarantine until test results come back. 

Torch Lake sandbar was also identified as an exposure site over the Fourth of July weekend after multiple individuals tested positive after attending festivities at the lake. According to the Health Department of Northwest Michigan, the positive cases could not identify all of their potential contacts at Torch Lake, which means "numerous individuals may have been exposed to COVID-19" and that "additional cases could be seen in the coming days," according to the Health Department.

Anyone who was at the Torch Lake sandbar over the Fourth of July weekend is being advised to self-monitor for symptoms and to seek testing if symptoms develop or if you were at high risk for exposure due to being in close proximity to others and not wearing a mask.