Coronavirus How The NFL Is Staying Safe

Football is back! 

With coronavirus cases still at all-time highs in the United States, the NFL has had two weekends of relative coronavirus-free games. That is almost miraculous. No regular season games have been cancelled due to coronavirus outbreaks. Preseason was cancelled which is probably one of the reasons for an unusual number of upsets in week 1. 

Most stadiums did not allow any fans in weeks 1 or 2 of the NFL. One of the few that did, Kansas City, did have an outbreak in a group of 10 fans. However, due to contact tracing and separating fans into 10 person blocks throughout the stadium, the group was easily isolated.  

While surprising, the low numbers were not due to a miracle, but rather human determination and willpower. Sports leagues have proven sports can be played safely. Before the NFL started up again, the UFC had been having fights almost weekly going back to April. A few fights were cancelled due to a fighter or a person in their camp testing positive. No matter how big the fight, the UFC has been diligent about not allowing fights to continue if there is any risk of coronavirus infection.  That stringent approach has kept the UFC fighters, camps, and their families safe.  

The key that has been proven to work is a rigorous testing regimen. In an article on 9/8 from the NFL, it said of 44000 test of 8000 personnel in August, 8 people tested positive. Those 8 were immediately quarantined and no one else was infected. 

According to Pantherswire (the Carolina Panthers' website) no cases of covid had been reported prior to  week 2's games. This is really amazing considering half of the NFL teams and support staff were traveling around the country staying in hotels, taking planes, buses, etc.  

The entertainment industry has reported a few isolated cases, but not many. Why, testing, social distancing, and the use of PPEs.  Every person on set is tested relentlessly. I had to take three covid tests over three days before I was allowed on set this week to film for one day.  

If the major sports leagues and the entertainment industry are whole heartedly buying into widespread testing, wearing PPEs, and social distancing to keep infections at bay, I really don't know why anyone would argue against using these methods in our daily lives. 

Bring on the sports! 

Take care and be safe. 

Posts Tuesday

Coronavirus First Major Professional Sporting Event Tonight

Fight Island, Indian Casinos, Vegas, Denver, Florida

The UFC is fighting tonight! The first major sporting event during the coronavirus epidemic. The UFC is the premier organization for mixed martial arts, much like the NFL for football.

UFC President Dana White almost pulled off UFC 249 on April 18 by moving the event to an Indian Casino in California to avoid quarantine rules. But just days before the event, California Governor Newsom, Senator Feinstein, and as Dana White put it, the highest people at Disney/ESPN (UFC partners), told him to cancel.

So then he bought an island, called it Fight Island, that could not be touched by quarantine restrictions, location still undisclosed, and began constructing facilities to make the fight happen. It seemed like something out of a video game or a Bruce Lee movie.

While Dana confirmed he is still constructing the necessary infrastructure on his island, Florida, who deemed sports an essential business, offered to host the event.

And here we go.

The UFC is determined to make sure they do everything right as the world is watching. Safety measures include no crowd / audience; everyone in building, fighter, referee, camera crew member, etc., will be tested for the coronavirus; during weigh-ins, fighters wore masks and gloves; and other precautions.

If they bring this event off without becoming a coronavirus hotspot of infection, I am sure numerous other sporting events will start. The UFC already has two more fight nights scheduled in Florida on May 13 and May 16.

If anyone can do this right, I imagine it will be the UFC as they have the Big Mouse looking over their shoulder helping ensure it is done right.

One fighter tested positive for the coronavirus two days ago and he is now in quarantine.

We are going for a ride, I hope it is a smooth one.

Take care and be safe.

Posts Tuesday and Saturday