“COVID-19 Incidence in Brazilian Regional Soccer League Among World’s Highest”
Hey there, soccer fans! You won’t believe this, but a study done at the University of São Paulo (USP) in Brazil shows that the rate of COVID-19 infections among professional soccer players during the 2020 season was pretty much the same as that among the frontline health workers battling the pandemic. Can you imagine? Soccer players and healthcare heroes having a similar “goal” in their infection rates!
The researchers got all nerdy and analyzed nearly 30,000 RT-PCR tests from 4,269 players during eight soccer tournaments in São Paulo. And guess what? They found 501 cases of the pesky virus among the players. Not to forget, they also checked out 2,231 tests from support staff like health workers and coaches, and 161 of them were positive. Yikes!
One of the researchers, Bruno Gualano, said, “Our players were infected between three and twenty-four times more than players in other countries. We’re leading the ‘championship’ in COVID-19 infections!” Go Brazil!
But hold on a sec! The researchers think the numbers could be even higher because some players opted to get tested elsewhere, so their results weren’t included. Sneaky players!
Now, brace yourself for this twist – the virus didn’t care about gender equality. It attacked both male and female players equally. No discrimination on the soccer field, huh? Equality goal achieved!
Now, here’s where the story gets a bit serious. While players mostly had mild symptoms or none at all, some support staff had it rough. They had more severe cases of COVID-19. Oh no! And one of them even lost the match against the virus. Sad times!
But let’s cheer up a bit! Brazil has its own style. Unlike Denmark and Germany, where the players seem to follow the rules more, some Brazilian players are quite the rebels. They don’t always stick to the safety protocols. Come on, guys, play safe!
The researchers pointed out that soccer matches didn’t seem to be a major source of spreading the virus. The real “showdown” happened when players and staff didn’t follow the safety guidelines outside the games. Naughty players and staff, listen up! Play by the rules!
And get this – some clubs were hit harder than others. One club got a whopping 36 positive cases in just one month. Ouch! That’s a heavy “penalty” to pay!
Now, here’s a thought: Maybe we should put the entire soccer world in a big “bubble” to stay safe, just like the NBA did. But hey, that would cost a fortune! Shutting down or isolating might be a bit tough. Tough decisions to make!
The study is part of a big team effort, involving hospitals, universities, and the São Paulo State Soccer Federation. They want to see how COVID-19 affects soccer players in the long run. Teamwork makes the dream work, right?
So there you have it, folks! Soccer players and COVID-19 – it’s a fierce match on and off the field. Stay safe, play safe, and let’s tackle this virus together! Go Team Corona-Busters! 🤜🤛
