Jnags7 wrote:
Any race, any region. Where has there been a connection between a race and that race stressing the system - define system however you want (hospital capacity, ems workers, medical supplies, etc).
It seemed like a legit concern early on but as events have happened including challenge, BWR and Ironman, seems like that fear didn’t play out.
So why do we (collectively as a society) continue to think it will?
And I’m asking because I haven’t heard or seen it but I’m usually a step behind... I don’t understand why the vaccine allows us to race vs not race in 1H2021.
Regions with tight travel controls and low infection rates will probably also have had no races, so little chance of evidence one way or the other. Regions with broad proliferation of infections and limited control with limited ability to conduct infection tracking, are unlikely to be making a fuss about a race, when they've plenty other issues more frequently occurring events to worry about. The fact you haven't heard about a cases being traced to races doesn't mena races are safe, or should proceed. I've seen and heard a lot of talk over the last 9 months or so with assertions that activities not demonstrated to have caused infections should be assumed safe. That's absurd, reductionist nonsense. Absence of evidence that a thing is true, does not prove it false. Do you have proof that races will NOT provide a significant risk of infection spread?
I think the concern is legitimate because any assembly of people, especially involving mixing otherwise separate populations, presents an increased risk. Yes, the fact it's outdoors will help. The fact the athletes will be solo out on the road will help. Distancing controls will help. But I don't think there is sufficient need to introduce the risk in the first place. And regardless of the athletes interaction at the event, there will still be significant travel, assembly of spectators (some of whom will not be cautious), and other activities increased by holding such an event.