Back in the numbers. The parking lot at Carnival Bingo is getting busier by the day. (Nigel Maxwell/paNOW Staff)

By Glenn Hicks

a better numbers game

Bingo is back

Jul 17, 2020 | 2:00 PM

That ‘19’ in COVID, the dreaded R number regarding reproductive rate, and the seemingly endless dose of daily caseload figures: we’ve endured four months of ugly statistics. But there’s another far more pleasant numbers game that is starting to re-engage many in the community.

Citizens are slowly getting back into their stride – dabbers in hand – to the local bingo hall. It has been nine days since Carnival Bingo in Prince Albert reopened its doors for the first time since March 18 in line with the easing of COVID-19 restrictions, and that’s good news for the operation and its more than 20 staff, residents and charity groups.

“The response has been very good,” manager Todd Bernier told paNOW. “The first few days were a bit of a learning curve, but everyone has been cooperative and it’s getting easier as the days go by.”

Bernier is referring to the health and social distance protocols that are in place such as the taking of customers’ temperature with a non-contact thermometer along with the use of hand sanitizer before entry. All staff wear face masks and while not mandatory, it’s recommended guests do the same.

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Bernier explained the hall is currently working at about 40 per cent capacity which means around 435 customers maximum, “if everyone plays by the social distancing rules,” although he said his biggest evening so far has been about 300. But the average attendance has been much less than that.

And while Bernier admits there is trepidation from some, he said people are slowly getting into things again.

“Once people come and look at how we’re set up and how the social distancing is working… I think people are becoming more and more comfortable,” he said, noting the community had missed its bingo.

“It’s a social outing and always has been. Besides the chance to win some money and support some great charities, it’s a social outlet people have missed. We’re glad to have them back,” he said.

Charities cautious but happy

One of the beneficiaries of the charitable revenue-sharing component is the Optimist Club of Prince Albert.

Bingo chairperson George Lewko welcomed the reopening of the local hall and the return of a key source of income, even though he expects it to be modest to start. But he added not everyone is ready to get involved just yet.

“It’s nice getting back out but we have members that are older and we’ve told them not to come, or we have members that have spouses whose immune systems are compromised so we’ve told them to stay away,” he said.

Lewko figured about a hundred players came out Wednesday afternoon to the club’s first event since the reopening and likely more will come for the midnight bingo event July 22.

He said despite the health measures and social restrictions, it’s important to get the cash coming back into the charity as they have ambitious plans to construct a $50,000 Snoezelen room (sensory room) at Ecole Vickers in the coming two years.

“You’ve got plexiglass up, there’s barriers, hand sanitizer everywhere… and every time we handle cash we’re sanitizing,” he said. “It’s a little learning curve but maybe some of that stuff we should have been doing in the first place.”

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glenn.hicks@jpbg.ca

On Twitter:@princealbertnow