Feb. 5, 2021 — Although Tremendous Bowl Sunday is just not a nationwide vacation, it’s typically handled as one — a daylong celebration stuffed with pals, household, and meals. However this 12 months might be totally different. At the least, that’s what medical doctors are hoping.
Medical professionals are pleading with the general public to remain bodily distanced and hold 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 nervous 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 drugs within the Division of Infectious Illnesses on the College of Michigan. “We don’t need Tremendous Bowl Sunday to turn into ‘Superspreader Sunday.’”
There are three specific variants which have triggered 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 nicely the out there vaccines defend towards them.
“This Sunday, keep in mind whichever workforce you are rooting for and whichever industrial is your favourite, please watch the Tremendous Bowl safely, gathering solely nearly or with the individuals 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 provided in the course of the vacation season. In an interview with NBC’s As we speak present Wednesday, he mentioned “there at all times is a spike” of recent infections following historically social occasions.
“Benefit from the sport, watch it on tv, however do it with the instant members of your loved ones, the individuals in your family,” he mentioned.
Fortunately, surveys present that many individuals could heed these warnings. The Nationwide Retail Federation reports that simply 28% off individuals 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 get together, and 28% mentioned they’d attend one. 5 p.c mentioned they’d go to a bar or restaurant.
