Bingo and the Coronavirus – One Club is Taking to Drastic Measures!

If you believe the media and the Government, Coronavirus (or Covid19) is set to be a global pandemic. Stay inside, wash your hands regularly and don’t share crockery is advice being given by the NHS (and other sources), but is there anything you can do to prevent catching the deadly disease?

Very little is known about the disease, other than it can kill. There is some good news though. According to UK health officials, Coronavirus is “not comparable” to the 1918 Spanish flu epidemic in which 500 million people worldwide were affected (that’s a third of the population!). Sadly, the deadliest pandemic in history (to date), killed 50 million people.

But, is it all just scaremongering? According to Oxford University’s Vaccine Knowledge Project, roughly 600 people die from influenza (the flu) each year. In the US, 10,000 people died during the 2019 flu season. These figures give an overall mortality rate of 0.13% which is low.

Coronavirus has affected 20,704 people in China alone (this figure is set to soar globally) and of those affected, 427 have died. This gives a mortality rate of 2.07% - which is high.

Too Hot to Trot

One bingo venue in the UK is taking drastic measures to stop the spread of the disease, by taking the temperatures of every visitor to the club. Patrick Duffy, the managing director of Palace Bingo has been testing each and every bingo player as they arrive purely as a precaution.

Anyone with a temperature above 37.4*C, will not be able to enter or play bingo games. If you’re among one of those turned away, there are many online bingo sites waiting to welcome you and you high temperature.

It’s important to note you don’t necessarily have Coronavirus because you have a high temperature.

The virus displays itself as…

…pneumonia with people coughing, having a high fever and shortness of breath. In severe cases, it can cause organ failure and sadly, antibiotics are of no use.

Patrick Duffy from Palace Bingo said: "I believe every business has a duty of care, where you bring people in numbers together. Particularly in the afternoon, there might be at least 60 to 70 people in, so we do not allow people in that may have a virus."

Having only just returned from Singapore himself a month ago, he told local press of his experience with the deadly virus: "It was big news there. The best hotels were doing temperature checks. People have been very complimentary about it that we are taking the time and trouble to make sure they are safe."

So far, so good. Only two customers declined to take the test and despite the temperature checks, the bingo hall is being deep-cleaned every morning. Should more bingo halls be following his example?

When to Seek Medical Advice

If you live in the UK and have recently travelled from areas affected by Coronavirus, or have been in contact with someone who has, NHS Coronavirus guidelines recommend you call 111. Do not go to your doctor’s surgery or A&E if you’re displaying any symptoms – this is vital!

Thee is currently no evidence to suggest that domesticated pets can be infected, despite what you read in the news. The same can be said for receiving parcels from China (and other infected areas) or by ordering take-away foods.