Brett Larner of Japan Running News has translated an interesting article today. In Japan, some super strict Covid-19 restrictions have been announced for the Hakonen Ekiden qualifier.
Larnter translated:
The document states that if anyone involved with a team on a day-to-day basis, whether an athlete, head coach, assistant coach or anyone else, tests positive for the coronavirus in a PCR test taken on or after Sept. 26 during the three weeks prior to the race, the entire team will not be allowed to compete under any circumstances.
One head coach thought they were too draconian and said it would result in suicide.
The coach tweeted:
"These conditions read like a threat. Rules like this will lead to someone committing suicide. People should follow medical professionals' advice and observe a period of self-isolation [if they test positive]. Draconian rules like this that take a toll on students' emotional well-being need to be rewritten immediately!"
It kind of raises an interesting debate. If you have super strict rules, you one hand might get more compliance as ,people don't want to ruin their whole team's season, but on the other hand, I might think it could discourage some people from getting tested for Covid-19.
So the net effect would be what? Thoughts?