In this week’s Village14 Open Post, Isabelle says ….
I want to discuss the supervision of playgrounds, basketball courts and tennis courts. What steps do we need to have those open? -distancing, distancing and distancing.
Why not reopen all those with some patrolling. I don’t see what the Police is doing these days: they don’t stop speeders; they could be patrolling and making sure people are distancing.
What about crossing guards? School janitors, school secretaries (are they working?) teachers who are teaching less than one hour a week (Yes, I have heard of some!)
Those courts are essential for psychological well-being. Teenagers love to shoot baskets by themselves, it provides a relief of all the (you cannot do that). Tennis players are mostly reasonable and careful; why should they be punished because of a small foolish minority?
Kids need to climb: they could wear gloves not to touch metal parts; or the Cty could disinfect the structures. Tweens have been seen in groups of four: a fine to their parents would stop that quickly. Let’s be open to responsible behavior!!!
... discuss
Very best case scenario is a vaccine in 12-18 months. https://www.livescience.com/coronavirus-covid-19-vaccine-timeline.html
We never fully shut down – why I can buy clothes in Target but not Newton Center was never fully explained, ditto with the crazy construction rulings – leaf blowers and 40Bs can continue work, homeowners can’t.
We need a reason driven reopening, with reason driven protections. Example of fear driven, psydo-protection – taking off our shoes at the airport: https://www.vanityfair.com/culture/2011/12/tsa-insanity-201112
Basketball courts and tennis courts should be opened immediately. Soccer goals should be unchained. There is very little evidence to suggest outdoor spread is a problem and there is plenty of evidence suggesting that obesity is a primary comorbidity.
I was very happy yesterday to see 4 teens enjoying themselves while acting responsibly in the Hyde playground. The sat in a circle with everyone 6′ apart having a lively conversation on such a beautiful day.
I have just discovered a lengthy, elaborate statement by the United States Tennis Association (USTA), with protocols for playing tennis in the era of the Coronavirus. Here is the link:
https://www.usta.com/en/home/stay-current/national/usta-statement-on-safety-of-playing-tennis-during-the-covid-19-v.html
The statement is rather expansive, but it provides guidelines for communities that, because of the decrease in the prevalence of the Covid 19, have decided to allow tennis to be played. Here are some points made:
– Doubles tennis is not a good idea at this time;
– It would be best to play with members of your family group/germ pool; utmost caution should guide your choice of others outside that group.
– The courts themselves must meet rigorous standards of cleanliness, especially the hard surfaces on which the virus survives best;
– Though no studies have yet confirmed that the virus spreads through handling tennis balls, it is entirely possible that it could. For that reason, no one should play who has symptoms suggesting the slightest possibility of having the disease.
– After a long layoff from tennis, players should begin slowly and compete minimally until they reestablish their tennis conditioning.
The USTA report goes into much greater depth than this cursory summary. Reopening athletic facilities, in its view, seems to depend on improved conditions, i.e. falling infection rates and hospitalizations. Massachusetts, it appears, is not at that point. When might it be? I don’t know, but I guess I will have to wait!
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