All sports should resume in bubble format due to COVID-19 concerns
A bubble-like atmosphere seems to be the only way sports will work in the COVID-19 era.
The latest news surrounding the Miami Marlins COVID-19 outbreak doesn’t look good for baseball. A total of 14 people in the Marlins organization have now tested positive for the virus. Jose Urena and four position players tested positive Sunday and the latest 10 positive tests involved eight players and two coaches. These results were reported by ESPN’S Jeff Passan Monday morning. Due to the recent developments, the Marlins home opener against the Baltimore Orioles has been canceled.
COVID-19 doesn’t appear to be going anywhere anytime soon. In order for sports to continue and there to be some sense of normalcy, leagues need to adopt the NBA and WNBA’s plan and continue to play in a bubble. A week ago, the NBA had zero out 346 COVID-19 tests come back positive. That positive outcome prompted Los Angeles Clippers Head Coach Doc Rivers to take a jab at the White House and their handling of the pandemic. While the virus isn’t a laughing matter, it is important to look at what’s working. In the sports atmosphere, the bubble seems like the safest way to play.
If other leagues adopt the practices that they are doing, sports can continue. Testing players every day, quarantining them if a positive test is picked up, and checking temperatures of players, coaches, and media in the bubble are things that seem to be working well. There is a system in place.
The NHL received good news last week as well in their plans to return to play. According to ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski, Of 2,618 tests administered to more than 800 players, two players tested positive. As for the NFL, growing concern by the players on social media prompted the league to come up with a concrete plan for how testing will be done and how it will keep the players safe.
Sports are an extension of society in more ways than one. People have to work together to attack this virus and in order for sports to come back and stay, it starts with people taking accountability for their safety and others.