It is approximately three months until the start of the 2020 World Series of Poker and many players are making their arrangements to attend this year’s event. As many are planning, however, there are rumblings around the world regarding the coronavirus outbreak that has plagued the globe. Caesars Entertainment, the management behind the WSOP, is maintaining that this year’s event will go off as scheduled.
“No Plans” to Cancel WSOP
Poker News Daily reached out to Seth Palansky, the communications director for Caesars, who was quick to dispel any rumors that there was discussion regarding canceling this year’s tournament schedule. “We are monitoring COVID-19 (the medical description of the virus) developments very carefully and have no plans to cancel the WSOP,” Palansky reassured the poker community. It is a statement meant not only to convey that the organization is concerned with the outbreak, but that it isn’t going to stop the cards from flying on May 27.
The WSOP isn’t the only worldwide event that is currently scheduled to go on. The 2020 Summer Olympics, due to begin three months from now also, have stated repeatedly that they will be held as scheduled. While some specific events held in China have either been postponed or canceled due to the outbreak, the bulk of the international sporting world has gone on with their activities regardless of the coronavirus outbreak.
The COVID-19 outbreak began in Wuhan, China, just a couple of months ago. COVID-19 is an acronym for “coronavirus disease 2109” which is a part of the SARS family of viruses. Since its outbreak in December 2019, the coronavirus has infected over 86,000 people worldwide and killed approximately 3000. Although most of the infections and deaths have occurred in China, there are preliminary signs that it is spreading to South Korea, Italy and other countries.
The States of America has been relatively unscathed by the virus. As of the end of February, 70 cases have been confirmed, with the first death reported Saturday in Washington state. This rather low infection rate is something that is a good thing, although Palansky and the WSOP are doing their due diligence in keeping a close eye on developments in the case.
Past Medical “Emergencies” Have Not Stopped WSOP
There have been plenty of examples where past medical emergencies haven’t stopped the WSOP – or other major sporting events – from occurring. In 2015, the Zika virus threatened the Americas, eventually infecting 1.5 million people. There were plenty of poker players who came from Colombia, Puerto Rick, Jamaica and other Latin American and South American nations that did not cause a mass infection on the grounds of the Rio.
In May 2005, scientists believed that the H5N1 virus – Avian flu – would infect approximately 20% of the population of the planet. By 2013, however, the World Health Organization announced that there had been 630 confirmed cases of Avian flu. Of those cases, 375 people died.
What Should Poker Players Do?
While the fatality rates from those influenza outbreaks weren’t significant, the coronavirus bears watching for the speed of its dispersion. But some of the same steps people took to keep from getting those other diseases apply to the coronavirus outbreak today. In fact, those steps are something that all people in a poker room would be well advised to practice, whether avoiding an influenza or just for general good hygiene and etiquette:
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
