PROFESSIONAL SPORTS AND CORONOVIRUS

Even if pro-sports should open to an empty stadium, some sports are more prone to coronavirus than others.  But there are places where payers get in close proximity with other members, such as in rooming (two to a room) and meals.  Nearly all pro-sports events have been canceled.

Perhaps the lest safe sport is professional Football.  You not only have 22 players on the field, briefly smashing into each other but also a bunch of players and assistants sitting on benches, currently close together.  I suppose the benches could be extended but it would be very hard for players even on the bench not to pass close to others.  As of this writing, several pro-football players and others are said to have coronavirus.*

Maybe next is professional basketball.  Fewer players are involved than in pro-football, but there still are 10 players on the court in close proximity to each other.  And then there is the bench problem again though small than for football.  Many pro-basketball plays have acquired coronavirus.*

Hockey has seen quite a few cases of coronavirus.  One team had as many as 7 players and other members of the 52 member traveling team come down with coronavirus.*  Hockey revels in being a contact sport.*

Minor league baseball in the U.S. has seen quite a few players acquire coronavirus (season not canceled), but only one major leaguer (that canceled the preseason).  Also, players from the Nippon League (Japan) have gotten coronavirus also.  Baseball has 9 players on the field and one or more opponents plus three umpires at a time.  There is not a lot of contact between players such as for football and basketball, but both sides use the same ball and, of course, there is the bench problem as well.  The main points of contact or proximity are the hitter, catcher, and plate umpire.  I don't know how you can cure that though the umpire may be able to move back some.  There can also be contract between a runner and the defenseman on the bases.  sometimes going after a flyball, players will collide at least get close together.*

Though professional boxing has only two opponents there are also the cut man and the coach plus a referee in the ring at times., there is a lot of contact between them, such as clinching.  There is a boxer who acquired coronavirus.*

One of the safest sports should be professional golf what with only four people involved (a golfer and the caddy), but the golfer does get close to the caddy.  I suppose the caddy might move away when the golfer comes to select a club.  If the clubs have been sanitized, there should be little problem.  It should be easy for the golfers to remain six feet apart.  Their hands do get into the cup, however, that may be the weak point.  One golfer has acquired the coronavirus.*

Another safe professional sport would be tennis single, though both players touch the tennis ball which is the weak spot.*

* https://www.latimes.com/sports/story/2020-03-12/coronavirus-athletes-and-sports-figures-who-have-tested-positive