Dr. Fauci cautions against rushing sports back from hiatus
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As professional sports leagues ramp up plans to return from hiatus during the COVID-19 pandemic, concerns remain about the viability and safety of doing so.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, is cautioning pro sports organizations that a return may not be feasible in 2020 unless the safety of players, employees, and fans can be guaranteed, according to James Wagner and Ken Belson of The New York Times.
"Safety, for the players and for the fans, trumps everything," Fauci said. "If you can't guarantee safety, then, unfortunately, you're going to have to bite the bullet and say, 'We may have to go without this sport for this season.'"
One of the major hurdles for the return of pro sports remains a lack of access to adequate testing. Fauci said progress has been made in the development of COVID-19 tests, but not enough to support sports leagues.
Fauci also expressed concern that rushing sports and other industries back into action too soon could result in a major setback in the effort to combat the spread of the coronavirus.
"If we let our desire to prematurely get back to normal, we can only get ourselves right back in the same hole we were in a few weeks ago," he said.
It was reported Tuesday that MLB is considering a three-division realignment for the 2020 season, wherein teams would likely play in their home ballparks against natural, geographical rivals in order to reduce travel.
Optimism for a salvaged MLB season has remained high, with a general target for Opening Day falling somewhere between mid-June and July 4.
The NBA is targeting May 8 as the earliest date to reopen certain team practice facilities in hopes of eventually finishing the 2019-20 season. The NHL, meanwhile, has continued to discuss various plans for resuming its campaign, with Toronto and Columbus reportedly in the running to serve as hub cities and host games for multiple teams.
The NFL is slated to release its standard 17-week schedule on May 9, but it's reportedly working on contingency plans in case changes are needed.
Fauci reiterated that any return would need to happen carefully and gradually, and ideally only when infection levels have been further reduced.
"I would love to be able to have all sports back," Fauci said. "But as a health official and a physician and a scientist, I have to say, right now, when you look at the country, we're not ready for that yet."
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