COVID-19's Initial Threat on the Return to Sports

Photo Credit - Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox

With sports training camps back-in-action and teammates being reunited, COVID-19 still possesses a threat to the health and safety of those in the sports community. No doubt there have been many changes in the sports community like daily COVID testing, transforming concourses to workout areas, and converting suites into locker rooms to have social distancing, in order to prevent the virus from spreading within the teams. However, nothing is ever going to 100% effective in preventing someone from contracting the coronavirus. Each major sporting league has different ways that they are conducting their season. Check out my other post titled "The Daunting Return to Sports" for information on this. With this in mind, leagues are taking all precautions including testing.

As the teams returned, players, faculty, and staff were tested for COVID-19. Here are some of the early numbers.

MLB - First Round Testing (CBS Sports):

• 1.2% positive test results

• 3,185 test samples

• 38 total positive cases

NBA - Tests since June 23 (ESPN):

Players

• 7.12% positive test results

• 351 test samples

• 25 total positive cases

Staff

• 1.13% positive test results

• 884 test samples

• 10 total positive cases

WNBA - Tests as of July 6 (WNBA Twitter):

• 5.10% positive test results

• 137 test samples

• 7 total positive cases

NHL - Testing results as of June 29 (NBC Sports):

• 1,450 test samples (250 players)

• 26 positive cases

(The NHL conducted tests in a very different manner. I encourage you to read the article linked above for a full explanation.)

NFL:

There hasn't been extensive league-wide COVID-19 testing yet as players haven't started team practices. Although, there have been numerous cases of players and staff testing positive.

So, although leagues are hopeful that all of their cleaning procedures and hand sanitizing stations will allow them to conduct their season safely, I'm slightly concerned. Given how rapidly this virus spread in the first place, there is not a sure way to prevent is spread even after enacting all of these procedures. Athletes, like anyone else, are not immune to contracting the virus. The lack of social distancing and the ability to wear masks in contact sports poses a big health threat. This aside, the changes in procedures, rigorous cleaning, and social distancing when able to, makes the conditions far safer and promising. Above all, I want the everyone participating in sports to remain safe and healthy. I am hopeful that the season will be able to actually be played as I miss sports dearly.

How do you feel about sports returning after these positive COVID-19 tests?