Trump says college football should happen this fall because coronavirus 'just attacks old people'
President Trump's reasoning for why college football should happen this fall probably wouldn't satisfy a lot of folks in the medical and infectious disease research communities.
The president in an interview with Fox Sports on Tuesday said the season, which is in jeopardy because of the coronavirus pandemic, should be played because COVID-19 "just attacks old people," especially those with other health issues.
Trump on why college football should happen this fall:
Coronavirus "just attacks old people, especially old people with bad hearts, diabetes, or some kind of physical problem."
"These football players are very young strong people ... you're not going to see people dying."
— Ben Siegel (@benyc) August 11, 2020
It is true that the coronavirus is much more deadly for older people with underlying conditions, but young people, even athletes, can get quite sick from the pathogen. Indeed, one of the main reasons the NCAA's so-called 'Power 5 conferences' are contemplating postponing play until the spring is because of a rare heart condition called myocarditis that's been linked to COVID-19. Boston Red Sox Eduardo Rodriguez, who contracted the virus, has been sidelined for the entire 2020 Major League Baseball season with the condition, for example. In other words, death is not the only risk.
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