Feb. 5, 2021 — Although Tremendous Bowl Sunday will not be a nationwide vacation, it’s typically handled as one — a daylong celebration stuffed with associates, household, and meals. However this yr will likely be completely different. At the least, that’s what docs are hoping.
Medical professionals are pleading with the general public to remain bodily distanced and preserve gatherings digital this Sunday. In any other case, there could possibly be renewed spikes in COVID-19 circumstances — a very alarming prospect given the brand new strains which have cropped up.
“We’re anxious as a result of there are new variants of COVID, so there’s even much less room for error,” says Preeti Malani, MD, chief well being officer and professor of medication within the Division of Infectious Illnesses on the College of Michigan. “We don’t need Tremendous Bowl Sunday to grow to be ‘Superspreader Sunday.’”
There are three specific variants which have brought about concern to date — originating in the UK, South Africa, and Brazil — all of which have been detected in the US. They appear to be extra contagious than the unique pressure, and it’s unclear how effectively the out there vaccines defend towards them.
“This Sunday, bear in mind whichever workforce you are rooting for and whichever business is your favourite, please watch the Tremendous Bowl safely, gathering solely just about or with the folks you reside with,” CDC Director Rochelle P. Walensky, MD, mentioned Wednesday at a White Home COVID-19 Response Staff information convention.
Anthony Fauci, MD, the White Home COVID-19 Response Staff’s chief medical adviser, has issued warnings much like ones he supplied in the course of the vacation season. In an interview with NBC’s At this time present Wednesday, he mentioned “there all the time is a spike” of recent infections following historically social instances.
“Benefit from the sport, watch it on tv, however do it with the speedy members of your loved ones, the folks in your family,” he mentioned.
Fortunately, surveys present that many individuals might heed these warnings. The Nationwide Retail Federation reports that simply 28% off folks say they are going to be throwing or attending a celebration or watching the sport at a bar — the bottom within the survey’s historical past. In 2018, survey outcomes confirmed 18% mentioned they’d host a Tremendous Bowl social gathering, and 28% mentioned they’d attend one. 5 p.c mentioned they’d go to a bar or restaurant.
