Sports May Return Soon

Good news emerged last week for sports fans famished without any ongoing basketball, baseball, softball, soccer or hockey competition — the covid-19 crisis may be over before expected.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends sporting events be closed to the public, specifically large mass gatherings defined as more than 50 people, to slow the spread of coronavirus. As of Sunday the CDC projected an 8-week wait, but it might not have to be that long.

On March 8, the New York Post reported covid-19 may be on the decline. The Post listed China as the origin of the coronavirus, which up to that point accounted for over 80 percent of cases and deaths. The Post noted China’s cases peaked at 4,000 daily and began declining more than a month ago, dropping to fewer than 200 new cases reported daily.

The same pattern, referred to as Farr’s Law, is anticipated to take effect globally. Farr’s law shows epidemics tend to rise and decline in somewhat of a bell- shaped curve.

William Farr ( 1807– 1883), the first Compiler of Abstracts in the General Register Office of England, demonstrated that epidemics decline at a mathematically predictable rate, using empirical observations of a smallpox epidemic to confirm this. According to Oxford Reference. com, Farr later formulated several other mathematical equations and laws that apply to epidemics, indicating that prevalence of a disease can be calculated from the mathematical product of incidence and the average duration.

Meanwhile basketball state finals and high school spring sports have been put on hold.

Farmington’s bid to win a girls basketball state championship originally scheduled for Friday at 6 p.m. versus Star City at Bank OZK Arena in Hot Springs was canceled — at least temporarily.

On Thursday, Arkansas Activities Association Executive Director Lance Taylor issued a statement that due to growing concerns over covid-19 virus, the remainder of the AAA Basketball

Finals are postponed until further notice.

“This decision is effective following the conclusion of the 2A championships on March 12. No games will be played on March 13 or 14,” Taylor said.

“After speaking with the Arkansas Department of Health, Arkansas Department of Education, and the Governor’s office, we have made the difficult decision to postpone the rest of the Basketball Finals. Our number one priority will always be the safety of our student athletes, coaches, officials, and fans.”

The AAA said fans who purchased tickets for the postponed games will be issued full refunds. Fans who purchased tickets at their local school need to contact the office where the tickets were purchased. Fans who purchased tickets online for March 13-14 were refunded automatically. Refunds can take up to 10 business days.

Fans who purchased tickets from the Hot Springs Convention Center could obtain refunds by visiting the Convention Center ticket office. Printed tickets must be returned to receive a refund.

On Friday the AAA announced spring sports were also suspended through March 30. This affects Farmington, Lincoln and Prairie Grove baseball, softball, and soccer as well as track and field. As a result Farmington’s Invitational softball and Prairie Grove’s Jarren Sorters Memorial baseball tournaments have been cancelled this month.

Coaches can’t conduct practices, but individual athletes should stay sharp by working out on their own. Once competition does resume no one wants to be unprepared.

The AAA will reassess the covid-19 situation March 30 and announce further plans.