Bars Are the Perfect Place to Spread COVID-19, Experts Say
An infectious disease expert says, merely sitting at a bar with friends, involves loud laughing and talking—two simple actions that can significantly spread the virus.
In an initiative to slow the spread of COVID-19, states across the United States have mandated bars to shut down, much to the disappointment of many young adults.
Early today, Fox News came out with a report citing new research suggesting "that bars might be the worst place to go" to prevent the virus from spreading.
Experts say crowded indoor spaces filled with yelling people over loud music or talking physically close to each other are the exact opposite of social distancing.
What's even worse is that, according to reports, bars are likely to be covered and filled with "sticky surfaces" as results of spilled beverages, which are undeniably difficult to avoid touching.
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The Virus Spreading in Pubs Near Colleges and Universities
One of the studies the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention conducted indicates that "bars are dangerous" due to the "heavy breathing in close proximity."
In addition, experts reportedly note, too, that people are likely to get drunk in bars and being such lowers resistance to contagions.
As a result, it can cause individuals to forget the precautions they planned earlier. More so, younger individuals are more likely to be as severely affected by COVID-19, and thus, they are less likely to be conscious that they are even infectious.
In the previous weeks, according to a report from AP, bunches of COVID-19 cases have been tracked back to bars, specifically in "college towns."
These places, the same report indicated, near Iowa and Iowa State University, were ordered to close after they were allowed reopening by the local governments.
Aside from bars near Iowa and Iowa State University, those that are located in Arizona, Los Angeles, Texas, and some parts of Pennsylvania have also been ordered to close because of the spread of the pandemic.
Meanwhile, bars located in Florida and Colorado cannot serve alcohol on-site. In relation to this, in Michigan, reports said, "a large outbreak that has spread" to almost 150 individuals in more than ten nations, has been linked to a "brewpub" situated near Michigan State University.
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Bars, the Perfect Venue for Breaking the Social Distancing Rules
According to the Boston University School of Medicine's Dr. David Hamer, bars are the perfect place for breaking the social distancing rules. These are also the best places to spread the virus. A fast spread of the outbreak in a bar, the medical experts said, can swamp public healthcare workers.
On Wednesday, Linda Vail, the Ingham County health officer, said, in just 12 days, they went from two confirmed COVID-19 cases to shocking 128. And on that particular day, the health official said, shed did not have the latest numbers yet.
Infectious diseases expert from Phoenix, Saskia Popescu said, it is a struggle to have the surfaces disinfected at a bar "enough to make a difference."
Even merely sitting at a bar with friends, Popescu added, involves loud laughing and talking-two simple actions that can significantly spread the virus.
Following this result, the infectious diseases expert going to bars "is not worth it," especially that people can mix cocktail drinks at home.
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Jul 03, 2020 08:20 AM EDT
