LAS VEGAS – About 1,200 workers at 14 restaurants inside The Venetian will get emergency pay through the current COVID-19 shutdown of the Strip.

Las Vegas Sands will cover payroll costs for salaried employees and give weekly stipends to hourly and part-time employees.

“We’re trying the best we can for our team members and our extended family,” said Las Vegas Sands President and COO Rob Goldstein in an interview with the USA TODAY Network. “These are unprecedented, difficult times. This is when we have to step up.”

The internal restaurant stimulus is in addition to Las Vegas Sands paying 9,300 company employees through April 30, when Nevada’s mandated closure is set to end.

“It is good business,” Goldstein said. “If we take care of folks, when things get better, they’re going to be with us and we’ll go right back to business as usual. It’s not cheap, but it’s worthwhile in the long run.”

On Wednesday, Nevada extended its sweeping COVID-19 shutdown an extra two weeks, keeping all casinos and other nonessential businesses dark until April 30. The economic stoppage has led to job losses throughout Nevada and the U.S.

In a New York Post column, Las Vegas Sands Corp. CEO Sheldon Adelson said he hopes to keep paying employees until his two resorts on the Strip can reopen.

“It’s not only the right thing to do,” Adelson wrote, “it’s good business."

The Venetian partners with restaurants tied to world renowned chefs and food personalities, including Wolfgang Puck, David Chang, Thomas Keller, Emeril Lagasse, Lorena Garcia and Buddy “Cake Boss” Valastro.

The restaurants are managed independently and employ their own staff. Here’s a look at where the food workers will receive emergency pay:

Black Tap Burgers & Beer

Bouchon

Buddy V’s Ristorante

CUT by Wolfgang Puck

Go Greek

Lagasse’s Stadium

Matteo’s Ristorante Italiano

Majordomo Meat & Fish

Moon Palace

Mott 32

sixth+mill ristorante pizzeria and bar

Solaro by Wolfgang Puck

Spritz Poolside Restaurant

Yardbird Southern Table & Bar

Celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck applauded Adelson's efforts to protect workers at Las Vegas Sands properties.

"His generosity and involvement in the community has shown who is the man and who is a mensch and who is really taking care of employees," Puck said Friday. "So many companies can afford more, and it's almost shameful for them not to do it."