Shutterstock
As states begin to reopen during the coronavirus pandemic, professional sports teams and leagues are also starting to get back to work. This week, the National Football League announced 22 of its 32 franchises would be able to reopen facilities at their stadiums and the Cincinnati Bengals are among those who will take advantage of the opportunity.
According to Ben Baby of ESPN.com, the Bengals will reopen their offices at Paul Brown Stadium beginning on Wednesday, May 19.
“Today is the first day NFL teams can reopen facilities in limited capacities. Bengals will open Paul Brown Stadium tomorrow in accordance to NFL and state of Ohio regulations,” he wrote on Twitter.
Pro Football Talk added that means “no more than 50 percent of a team’s staff (not to exceed 75 total employees) are allowed. That doesn’t include coaches or players, with the exception of those getting medical treatment.”
The coronavirus outbreak has led to the cancellation or postponing of many large events including The Masters, NCAA Tournament, Coachella, SXSW, the Winter X Games, Stagecoach, Ultra Music Festival in Miami, and more. The NBA, NHL, and MLS have temporarily suspended their seasons.
The coronavirus mainly comes from animals and a majority of those who were infected early either worked at or frequently visited the Huanan seafood wholesale market in Wuhan, according to The Guardian. The virus is similar to Severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars) and Middle Eastern respiratory syndrome (Mers).
The Wuhan coronavirus is transmitted from person to person through “droplet transmission.” That means an infected person can pass the virus by sneezing or coughing on another person as well as by direct contact.
While a majority of the cases have been detected in the United States and China — with more than 85,000 deaths in the United States — it has now reached many countries around the world. It has also been confirmed in Italy, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, and many other eastern countries.
