On Tuesday it was announced that Major League Baseball will be a part of a massive coronavirus antibody study that is said to have over 10,000 tests taken nationwide over the next couple of days. The idea behind this testing is to help researchers find a better understanding of the virus and its spread. Although testing will help improve the gathering of crucial data, doctors have said that these tests will not speed up the process of games or even large gatherings.
Studies are being done by USC, Stanford University and the Sports Medicine Research & Testing Laboratory (SMRTL). These studies will be using test kits that will be able to get results in 10 minutes as well as an antibody test that is said to be able to detect whether a person contracted the virus regardless of symptoms shown.
Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, a professor of medicine at Stanford University stated the following:
“This is the first study of national scope where we’re going to get a read on a large number of communities throughout the United States to understand how extensive the spread of the virus has been. This will be the very first of those. Why MLB versus other employers? I’ve reached out to others, but MLB moved by far the fastest. They’ve been enormously cooperative and flexible. We’re trying to set up a scientific study that would normally take years to set up, and it’s going to be a matter of weeks.”
The main goal of the study is to get a better understanding of the virus’s correct infection rates by using a mass nationwide sample. The way MLB operates by using its staff, players, stadium workers, and others in such a speedy, logistics like manner is why doctors chose MLB to assist.
MLB did formally “jump” when researchers requested assistance. Perhaps the reality of a quicker solution for the virus in order to get baseball back and rolling is what MLB was thinking. Donors are reportedly funding the studies with MLB having paid nothing to assist. Seeing this as an opportunity to assist the public health-wise by finding a solution for COVID-19, the question remains on which clubs are set to help out.
One can only assume that the Dodgers would be more than likely to assist seeing as their season would take a bigger bump compared to other ball clubs with a delayed season that already sees the L.A. set MLB All-Star Game being canceled as well as a handful of players that could hit the free agent market, more notably Mookie Betts who could walk without even playing a single game for the Dodgers.
