Gov. J.B. Pritzker effectively cancelled all youth sports on May 5 by banning gatherings of 10 or more.
This means hundreds of Oak Park and River Forest kids will miss baseball and softball season this year. That’s in spite of research suggesting children may not spread the coronavirus that causes COVID-19.
Researchers in Australia studying the role of children in spreading the coronavirus have found that children have not spread the disease to adults.
The National Centre for Immunization Research reviewed more than 800 subjects contacted by 19 infected individuals and found no new cases in adults.
"COVID-19 is not the flu. Far fewer children are affected by COVID-19, and the number of transmissions from children to children and children to adults are far less," Australia's deputy chief medical officer said.
The seasonal flu has killed more than 200 in the United States this year, and Swine Flu killed more than 1,000 children in 2019, but COVID-19 has not killed children, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
However, in recent days reports out of New York indicate a "mysterious syndrome" linked to the coronavirus which has claimed the lives of at least three children and infected more than 70 others.
Nevertheless, Governor Pritzker has said that he is considering cancelling fall sports as well.
Prairie State Wire reported in early May that Pritzker was considering "requiring a vaccine or highly-effective treatment widely available" or complete elimination of new coronavirus cases to reopen events involving more than 50 people.”
Pritzker has offered a June 26 timeline to reopen restaurants and bars in some areas, but that currently does not affect youth sports seasons.
In Oak Park and River Forest, the Park District closed park facilities to organized sports until June 30. An email to parents of Oak Park and River Forest Pony baseball players revealed that OPRF Pony has cancelled the spring sports season and will allow families to request a refund, maintain an account credit for next year, or donate those fees to the organization.
The email also included this statement:
“All factors come together to create a situation where the window for our season has diminished extensively and would likely clash with family summer vacation schedules, should travel restrictions be relaxed. Last, even with eased social distancing, we believe the circumstances would still be stressful for many families to play ball this summer.”
The organization hopes that kids will play this summer, despite half the leagues cancelling their seasons.
“We at this point are planning on playing,” said Greg White, administrator for District 10 and president of the River Forest Youth Baseball and Softball league.
In the summer of 2019, more than 600 youths played ball in River Forest on 55 different teams.
Little League seasons typically run from April through June, but the earliest events can start is May 29, partly because of the phased opening plan outlined by Gov. J.B. Pritzker.
Much of Illinois is in phase 2, but phase 4 must be enacted to allow groups of 50 or more and social distancing to end.
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