Editorial: Businesses, schools aren’t the only ones affected by COVID-19

As many school districts dictate plans with their “return-to-learn” strategy, many other organizations are continuing to figure out how to return to life with as much “normalcy” as possible.

Unfortunately, there are more questions than answers that are poised around COVID-19. Information changes from day-to-day, with the only real consistency being that wearing face coverings reduce the spread. However, there are conflicting reports revolving around the spread when it comes to objects. Can COVID-19 be passed by touching one object and another person touching the same item? Can it be passed through handshakes? Right now, and let’s be honest, nobody knows the solution. Even predictions about a possible vaccine towards the latter half of this year predicts roughly a 75 percent success rate.

We are itching to return to normal life, but there are several organizations that are trying to have operations work. Most of us know about restaurants, schools, recreation facilities, and local entertainment businesses opening with reduced capacity. But a lot of people don’t know that the court system is having difficulty with the social distancing issue.

While many bench trials in court cases can be heard, jury trials present a whole different issue. Roughly 30 jurors are subpoenaed when a case is brought to circuit court. Normally they can all fit into the courtroom, but with social distancing in effect, the options are limited. Discussion from all parties involved from the judge to the sheriff’s office to the county administrator have to factor in what can be do to address the issue of safety when it comes to these trials. Even now, many jury trials have been put on hiatus due to COVID-19. The more intriguing information that was divulged revolved around an order from the Supreme Court requiring jurisdictions to have a safety plan in place in order to conduct jury trials. Even if a jury trial could be held, social distancing would be necessary for the jurors to have spacing while still conducting the hearing.

Another area that is current affected is sports and activities. While community individuals have organized some events on their own accord, sports have been a hot topic since the outbreak of COVID-19. The anxiousness in athletes to return to their passion on the field or the court has been halted for nearly four months. And while their desire to return is strong, other parties are taking precautions to make that happen. Still, there is no guarantee when or if sports will return soon.

The key factor to how our lives will be dictated in the future is when and if people take the risk to return to a normal life. Outbreaks are occurring in several other states outside of Virginia while we are currently on a neutral path. But as we reflect, is the risk worth it? We take a risk when we go out to eat, go shopping, visit family, and so much more. Can we balance our lives to the point where we can become comfortable to do things like we used to do.

Those are questions that will still need to be answered. Until then, we must be patient, pray, and seek guidance of those who are more knowledgeable than us on the issue, even if that knowledge is limited.