COLUMBUS, Ind. — Public health officials across the country, including in Bartholomew County, are urging people to avoid traditional gatherings this weekend so that Super Bowl parties don’t turn into super spreader events.
Typically, the Super Bowl is one of the largest party nights of the year, and Sunday’s game in Tampa, Florida, between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, is expected to draw a large television audience.
About 58% of adults in the U.S. said they plan to watch the Super Bowl this year, including about one in four who said they plan to watch the game with people they don’t live with, according to a survey by Seton Hall University.
Another survey suggests that 28% of people who said they will watch the Super Bowl plan to throw or attend a party or watch the game at a bar, according to the National Retail Association.
But due to the continued spread of COVID-19, experts are advising people to celebrate the big game differently this year.
“I know that people are ready to return to normality, and Super Bowl Sunday is a tradition for get togethers,” said Dr. Brian Niedbalski, Bartholomew County health officer. “We have to understand the guidelines should still be followed for now. People need to avoid prolonged contact with individuals outside of their own households. If you are going into someone else’s home, masks should be worn and there is still a need for social distancing.”
The warnings from experts come after the U.S. recorded 92,795 deaths from COVID-19 last month, the most deadly month so far, according to the COVID-19 Tracking Project.
In December, another 74,623 people died from the virus, which was an all-time high at the time.
A total of 57 Bartholomew County residents died from COVID-19 in December and January, according to the Indiana State Department of Health.
For more on this story, see Saturday’s Republic.
