Severed contact approach taken by leagues proves successful

The NHL and NBA finish their seasons with no positive cases of coronavirus
By Mo Hussain, Sports Reporter

When reflecting on these past NHL and NBA seasons respectively, it’s quite remarkable to see how both leagues managed to coordinate the continuation of their seasons despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Back in March, both the NBA and NHL among many other sporting leagues suspended league play within 48 hours after the coronavirus was officially declared as a pandemic by the WHO.

At the time, it could’ve been very difficult for anyone to see how both leagues would manage to return to play considering how many different variables would have to be in line in order for a comeback to be feasible.  Whether it is figuring out how to bring all of the players and personnel from every team, finding a place that would fit all of them in, catering, how to bring in members of the media, and dealing with all the other factors that come with coronavirus.

However, as time went on, both leagues managed to resume on July 30 (NBA) and August 1 (NHL). Fast forward to today, and both leagues somehow managed to finish their entire seasons with both leagues (NBA and NHL) luckily seeing no positive tests for coronavirus.

“The NBA, like the NHL, succeeded with COVID because they essentially eradicated the virus in a small population and almost totally severed their face-to-face contact with the outside world,” said epidemiologist Zachary Binney in a tweet.

As for what is going to happen next season, the NHL is looking to bring back its season relatively soon:

“Based upon what we have learned and what we know and what we still don’t know, I can say that we are now focused on a Jan 1 start for next season,” said Gary Bettman, commissioner of the NHL.

As one could imagine, the NBA still has to get through its draft and free agency season before completely setting their sights on the start of next season. However, according to NBA commissioner Adam Silver, he says his “best guess for the start of 2020-21 season would be in 2021.”