by Jim Buzzerd
COVID-19
Well, it’s almost July and there is less reason to be optimistic about the end of the COVID-19 pandemic than say a month ago. I’m not looking at data that supports that notion, just a constant barrage of new cases being reported on local news outlets. To clarify what local is in my case, I’ve been in Horry County South Carolina since mid March with the exception of two weeks back in West Virginia in May.
On June 11 Horry County surpassed 1,000 COVID cases; I was one of them. Since then over 500 more cases have been confirmed here. I’m not sure if that figure counts the 10 or so Preston County teenagers that returned from Myrtle Beach and tested positive for COVID. My quarantine ended last Thursday after a pretty tough seven days.
If I was lucky, I could sleep away most of the day, but come nighttime I tossed and turned relentlessly. I was probably among the luckier of those infected. I did not have a fever and displayed no significant respiratory issues, other than a persistent cough to deal with in the mornings.
I bring this up because it seems we may be reopening the country a little too quickly. Of course massive racial protests in many of our cities have done nothing to curb the virus. People really need to be smarter.
The West Virginia University Football Team has been together since June 15 and two players tested positive in the first six days. This can’t be a good sign for those wanting the upcoming football season to play out as scheduled.
Then there is the news that Best Virginia, the team of WVU alumni players who debuted in the TBT (The Basketball Tournament) last summer, will not play because of multiple positive COVID tests. Interest was ramping up too since the July 5 first round was set to match Best Virginia and the Marshall alumni team.
The team opened practice last week and were set to face the Marshall alumni team ‘Herd That’ in the opening round of the tournament in Columbus, Ohio on July 5. Officials at the TBT were made aware on June 18 that one Best Virginia player tested positive during an initial round of testing.
Although it was determined that the timing of the positive test could have permitted the remainder of the team to enter into a 14-day self-quarantine and frequent-testing protocol, Best Virginia opted to withdraw from the 24-team field.
“It is frustrating because as a competitor, you want to compete,” said Best Virginia head coach Jarrod West.
“We were all in. We bought into it and we were excited. Anytime you get in for a practice, the juices were flowing to get ready to compete. And then you get the gut punch of the situation.”
Hoping for some good news soon, but just not seeing it now.
