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NATCHEZ — The Mississippi Gaming Commission has ordered all of the state’s casinos to close at midnight Tuesday in an effort to slow the spread of the new coronavirus.

The announcement came Monday afternoon and is the latest in a state and national effort to slow the spread of the COVID-19.

The Centers for Disease Control and the White House has asked Americans not to meet in groups of 10 or more to help slow the outbreak and hopefully give the nation’s medical community a chance to stay afloat.

The mandatory closing will affect all casinos in the state and will last indefinitely.

“We knew that this was something that would come further down the line and obviously for the sake of everybody — our employees, our customers and everyone else in Adams County — we want to do the right thing and this is what is best to subdue the virus,” said Kevin Preston, founder and president of Magnolia Bluffs Casino & Hotel.

Preston said Magnolia Bluffs would close starting at 10 p.m. Monday and later on there would be a staff meeting to discuss the changes.

“One way or another we want to make sure that we take care of our team members,” Preston said. “… I hope we can get through this quickly.”