During winter, there is an event that brings everyone together, and no, it is not Christmas or even the new year. The Super Bowl brings friends and family together, even those who do not enjoy football.
The enticing commercials and grand halftime performance garner the attention of millions of people. However, with over 25 million cases of COVID-19 in the Unites States, it is expected that those millions of fans will have to watch the game from their television, but this is not the case. The NFL has decided to allow 22,000 fans, along with 7,500 healthcare workers to attend Super Bowl LV, an irresponsible and potentially fatal move on their part.
The NFL has invited the 7,500 healthcare workers to recognize the risk they go through daily in trying to save and serve others. In doing a tribute to the healthcare workers, the NFL contradicts themselves as 22,000 fans will be attending the Super Bowl, risking not only the safety of the healthcare workers, but the fans as well.
Inviting so many people to the Super Bowl, vaccinated or not, is dangerous, especially with the multiple variants of COVID-19 that are popping up in the U.S. So far there have been four variants discovered in the U.S., United Kingdom, Brazil, South Africa and Denmark. The U.K. variant has been suggested to be more deadly than the original variant that scientists have already created a vaccine for, and may become the dominant variant.
There is the possibility that the vaccine will remain effective against the variants, but there are issues with vaccine rollout. One issue is the shortage of staff available to administer the vaccine. Another issue is with storing the vaccines. There are two vaccines, Moderna and Pfizer, and the Pfizer vaccine has to be stored in a specialized freezer, which limits the areas that can administer said vaccine.
With so many issues surrounding COVID-19 and the vaccine, it is best for the NFL to not invite anyone but players, coaches and staff to the stadium. This is not impossible, and very manageable, made evident by the NBA “bubble.”
When the NBA season resumed, there was an executive decision to isolate players, coaches and staff in a “bubble” at the Walt Disney World Resort. The “bubble” has kept everyone safe and even the virtual faces of fans watching the games remotely. The NBA playoffs were in early October and went on without few problems, an approach the NFL should take into consideration.
With so many factors out of their control, the NFL should consider not allowing so many people in the stadium for Super Bowl LV. The NFL may think they are protecting people by limiting the amount of people allowed into the stadium, but they are only risking everyone’s life.
Iana Fields is a sophomore studying English creative writing at Ohio University. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnists do not reflect those of The Post. Want to talk to Iana? Tweet her @FieldsIana.
