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Ohio State football players have an interesting requirement in order to participate in voluntary workouts in preparation for the upcoming season. According to reports, the Buckeyes players must sign a coronavirus risk waiver before the workouts begin.
The waiver, known as the Buckeye Pledge, says that players “pledge to take responsibility for my own health and help stop the spread of the COVID-19.”
If the waiver is not signed, the athletes would be sidelined for the foreseeable future.
From the Columbus Dispatch:
The document goes on to warn athletes that “although the university is following the coronavirus guidelines issued by the CDC and other experts to reduce the spread of infection, I can never be completely shielded from all risk of illness caused by COVID-19 or other infections.” Incoming freshmen who had not turned 18 needed to have a parent or legal guardian sign the waiver.
Ohio State student-athletes returned to campus one week ago.
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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 117,000 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.
