As the COVID-19 pandemic worsens across the United States with cases spiking across the country, every professional sport is doing what it can to return. Now with MLB just weeks away from Opening Day, Washington Nationals closer Sean Doolittle is opening up about the dangers of bringing sports back.
Sean Doolittle: “Sports are like the award of a functioning society”
Doolittle hasn’t been shy about speaking up on matters that go against MLB’s wishes or its desires to return. After raising valid concerns about the viability of MLB’s plan to return in May, the All-Star closer is now focusing on the risks of sports returning during the COVID-19 pandemic.
As Doolittle noted, recent weeks have shown that the United States isn’t winning the fight against the coronavirus. While the country briefly flattened the curve for a few weeks, that progress has all been undone recently.
On Thursday, the United States set a global record for new COVID-19 cases in a single day. Meanwhile, there are now nearly 3 million confirmed cases in the country and more than 130,000 people have died from the coronavirus.
Other countries that prioritized everyone wearing masks, people staying at home and following social distancing guidelines have flattened their curve. As a result, in countries like New Zealand, sports have returned and fans can attend games.
MLB is just a few weeks away from Opening Day, coming at a time when the pandemic is getting worse. Yet, MLB teams like the Chicago Cubs are planning to let fans into their ballpark.
Sports is something that so many enjoy and would love to see during this difficult time. However, if it leads to more people getting sick and this pandemic getting worse, there are legitimate reasons to be concerned over bringing it back this quickly.