Bingo halls have finally been given a date for re-opening as the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, unveiled his ‘roadmap out of lockdown’ on Monday. The good news is that Bingo halls have been given the green light for opening, the bad news is that they will once again, be one of the last venues allowed to resume business.
Bingo Halls to Re-open
As part of the roadmap out of lockdown, all schools in England will be returning on 8th March, followed by hospitality, hairdressers and retail shops opening on 12th April. Unfortunately, bingo and casino venues are not included in this list and so have to wait for the next phase of re-opening. On 17th May, all other indoor hospitality, spas, gyms, bingo and casino venues will be allowed to open with nightclubs getting to go-ahead on 21st June. 
All of these plans are based tentatively on the rates of infection, and so are not set in stone. The Prime Minister was keen to point out that he wanted this to be a one-way road out of lockdown with not further restrictions to be put in place, and therefore, was approaching these dates with caution.
Bingo safety
Although it’s great news that a date is on the cards for re-opening bingo halls, many still think it will be too late, as many venues across the UK have already closed permanently. Bingo and casino venues were one of the last to open after the first lockdown and they spent thousands in safety adjustments to ensure they were Covid secure. Plastic screening, limited numbers, hand sanitisation stations and additional cleaning staff were all brought in to ensure the safety of customers and staff. Those who hoped to have these venues opened sooner, also said there was no evidence that these venues were responsible for the spread of the disease and it was unfair they had been made to make so many changes, yet had some of the highest restrictions imposed on them.