Casinos stay open amid pandemic concerns

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This article was published 10/01/2022 (1530 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A small piece of paper taped to a door at the entrance of McPhillips Station Casino offers a warning. “Please be advised that an employee at this location has tested positive for COVID-19,” it reads.

Dozens of employees at provincially run casinos have tested positive for the disease caused by the novel coronavirus since Christmas, raising questions about why the gaming facilities are allowed to operate as case counts soar.

Liberal Leader Dougald Lamont accused the Progressive Conservative government of choosing money over the health and safety of its citizens.

“The most important thing should be preventing infection, and that’s something this government doesn’t seem to care about in casinos.” – Liberal Leader Dougald Lamont

“It’s no fun being the wet blanket, because during this pandemic we’ve had to close down everything fun to do, whether it’s casinos or concerts or restaurants,” Lamont said Monday. “But the most important thing should be preventing infection, and that’s something this government doesn’t seem to care about in casinos.”

Much of a casino’s customer base is older, making the situation more urgent, Lamont said.

“It’s rare that you see anyone under the age of 60. So you have a huge customer base that’s almost entirely a vulnerable population. It’s just not responsible from a public health point of view,” he said.

“The idea that we’re going to keep these places open because it’s going to save money, when we risk sending people to the hospital where they’re going to cost hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars in an ICU, makes no sense.”

Seventy-seven Winnipeg staff members between McPhillips Station Casino, Club Regent Casino and Shark Club Gaming Centre have tested positive for COVID-19 since Dec. 20, a statement from Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries Corp. said Monday.

“Approximately” 36 of those cases are at McPhillips Station.

“The idea that we’re going to keep these places open because it’s going to save money, when we risk sending people to the hospital where they’re going to cost hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars in an ICU, makes no sense.” – Liberal Leader Dougald Lamont

That didn’t stop gamblers from trying their luck at the McPhillips Street facility Monday.

At least 60 people were inside, either playing VLTs or having a coffee at the McDonald’s location. The majority of the older clientele were masked, but some huddled around VLTs in small groups. A handful of staff attempted to keep up with disinfecting seats.

One visitor said he liked that the casino was relatively quiet.

“I come here to relax, and I like it when there’s nobody around,” said Joe, who did not want to give his full name.

Joe said he was happy with how the casino has been managed during the pandemic, adding he believes the province should reopen it further now that a large percentage of Manitobans have received two vaccine doses against COVID-19.

Under current public health orders, casinos are limited to 50 per cent capacity or 250 people, whichever is less.

“I come here to relax, and I like it when there’s nobody around.” – Joe

Another visitor said she’s more comfortable at the casino earlier in the day.

“There’s very few people around. At about 2 p.m., they start coming in, I try to go earlier,” she said.

A provincial spokesman said it’s been “kept up to speed” on COVID-19’s spread at gaming facilities.

“Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries, like all Manitoba businesses, is required to adhere to public health orders,” he said in an email. “We have been kept up to speed on the measures that the casinos have taken since they reopened last summer and can confirm that they actively implement measures that go beyond what is required of them.”

A spokesperson from MLL said in an email Monday: “It is impossible and misleading to conclude that all COVID-positive staff contracted or spread COVID while in the workplace.”

“Our employees continue to follow public health restrictions and our own screening and safety procedures and by notifying us once they become symptomatic or test positive on either a rapid antigen test or a PCR test and not attending work in either case,” the spokesman said.

malak.abas@freepress.mb.ca