Written by Here in the United States, we are all pretending we are back to normal now. It’s liberating and refreshing. And for the fully vaccinated, well-deserved. But, unfortunately, the party-crashers are threatening to spoil the fun for the guests.
Sporting events have shaped the public’s perception of the COVID-19 pandemic. We knew things were getting serious when the NBA suspended its season and the NCAA canceled March Madness. We found refuge in the televised events that were allowed to occur last summer, like PGA golf tournaments, the NBA “bubble,” and an abbreviated baseball season in empty stadiums.
Last fall, the NFL and NCAA developed sophisticated testing protocols to allow a football season to take place that almost resembled a regular one. Teams gradually allowed fans back into stadiums, and optimism rose accordingly. The sports world was taking a leadership role in educating the public on navigating through an uncertain time. It was challenging to manage, but they appeared on top of the situation.
Now, they are chasing their tails. As vaccinations were rising and cases were falling, the stadium gates opened up, and the protocols began to ease. All seemed to be going well when a few high-profile incidents occurred, bringing into question how prepared the leagues were to handle the new normal. Unfortunately, they reflect how the sports leagues have relinquished their leadership role.
Protocols based on testing have been mandatory. If you want to play, you must get tested. New protocols developed around vaccinations are suggestive. Please get vaccinated and, if most of you do, then we will start easing restrictions. Unfortunately, this soft stance is causing problems.
Golfer John Rahm procrastinated and delayed getting his vaccine until later in the spring. It turns out it cost him $1.7M. He had just gotten the one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine before the tournament started. A positive test result forced him to withdraw after the third round when he had a 6-stoke lead. Two weeks later, he had cleared the protocol and was able to win the U.S. Open this past weekend.
Phoenix Sun Chis Paul was vaccinated last February. Yet, he is currently away from his team because of the league’s “coronavirus-safety protocols.” Unfortunately, due to privacy concerns, It is unclear whether he has tested positive or was just in contact with someone who was. What is clear is that one of the league’s biggest stars is missing the opportunity to shine on the league’s biggest stage due to no fault of his own. Nevertheless, Paul remains a leader on the team and has stayed connected to the other players through FaceTime.
Last month, the New York Yankees had an outbreak of nine “breakthrough cases” of COVID-19. Breakthrough cases occur when vaccinated people test positive for the disease. Although it appeared to be an outbreak, it was not necessarily out of the ordinary. All of the people involved had received the lower efficacy one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine. In addition, seven of the cases were asymptomatic, and the other two only reported minor symptoms. Unlike the general population, baseball teams continue to receive regular tests. Although it sounds dramatic, it is further proof of how effective the vaccines have been.
Had the sports leagues taken the bold move to mandate that its players receive the vaccine, it would have allowed them to reduce its protocols significantly. Perhaps only symptomatic cases would remove the player from team activities as the risk level to a fully vaccinated population would be minimal. Such a policy would have been a very aggressive position but would have allowed continuity while promoting the benefits of getting the vaccine to the public. In addition, they would have resumed their leadership position.
I’m no fan of making anything mandatory, especially when it involves injecting stuff into my body. However, there are times where it makes sense to put such freedoms aside and trust the experts. That’s what Houston Methodist Healthcare System did. They wanted to protect their patients and other employees and had the means to administer vaccines to all employees. Earlier this month, 153 people who refused to comply either resigned or were terminated. A judge threw out a lawsuit seeking to block the dismissals.
Healthcare workers face many mandates, including vaccinations and immunizations. Traveling to many counties with known outbreaks requires immunization. Professional athletes face suspension for using performance-enhancing drugs.
By any objective standard, the COVID vaccines are a tremendous success. Their development will go down as a historic technical innovation, and the distribution system was a logistical miracle. But due to the skepticism caused by unclear and moderately effective mask mandates and a chaotic testing rollout, the public has not fully embraced vaccination. Chicken Little called “Wolf!” too many times.
It’s a shame. The result has been this odd dual universe. Some environments operate under an “abundance of caution,” while others go on like the pandemic is over. After a year and a half of staying at home, I took my first out-of-state trip this past weekend. Stepping into the airport made you feel like you were stepping back in time to six months ago. Everyone was wearing a mask.
But, once you get out of your Uber, you immediately return to maskless freedom. It’s odd and confusing. Indeed, there are a lot of people participating in the fun who are unvaccinated. I’m glad to be vaccinated and not have to worry, but I feel bad for those who needlessly risk infection due to an “abundance of ignorance.”
The NFL, like the other leagues, has refused to mandate the vaccines. Choosing a strategy of an “abundance of peer pressure,” it has implemented strict protocols for unvaccinated players while eliminating testing requirements for vaccinated players. Fearing mandatory vaccinations or the possibility of the team releasing him, Bills receiver Cole Beasley lashed out on social media last week.
It’s a relief to see the return to normalcy. Unfortunately, this means our sports leagues return to their normal position to appease everyone instead of leading them. Let’s call it an “abundance of missed opportunity.”