With winter sports seasons recently being approved to play by the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference, the continuation of wearing masks must be stressed to players. It is a known fact that the virus spreads much faster and more efficiently indoors; since almost all winter sports take place indoors, wearing a mask must be a mandatory precaution toward everyone’s safety. 

Before I get into my argument, here is a more in-depth rundown of how the virus spreads. COVID-19 infects others mostly through person to person contact. Those ways of transmission tend to be respiratory, such as sneezing, coughing, or talking. All of these actions leave and enter via your mouth, which is why the protective mask is so important.

I understand that masks can feel uncomfortable and annoying, and it’s not something we’re used to. However, we need to think about this in a more compassionate way. Although the death rate is relatively low for COVID-19, over 290,000 Americans have died from the virus already, and that number is only increasing. We need to think about those who are more susceptible to the virus, those who can’t afford to get sick. 

A sport such as basketball, where you are breathing heavily and usually around other players is a prime example as to why wearing a mask would be crucial. Transmission in sports can have a long-lasting effect you may not want to deal with. Your teammates and opponents will all have to quarantine for two weeks before returning to school. Not only is your health at risk, but your education is going to hurt from the missed days of school. 

My passion for this topic comes from my dad who has heart disease. His disease unfortunately puts him at very high risk for COVID-19 complications. Because of his situation, I have become much more aware of the people around me and how important it is to minimize transmission not only for myself, but for my family. Let’s make sure to be safe this winter.