Dwight Howard, who plays Center for NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers, is very publicly refusing to wear a mask despite the league being very clear that the refusal will bring serious consequences.
In an Instagram Live that he conducted on Saturday, Howard argued that he does not see the need to wear a mask while everyone is isolated in the NBA ‘bubble’. He says that he feels safe because everyone is being tested for the virus without contacting the outside world.
The NBA Bubble that Howard is referring to is the enclosed and isolated area in Disney World that certain players and staff members have been moved to. It was the NBA’s decision to commence the league in this way as a global pandemic continues to rage on.
Although the players, coaches and other team staff are forbidden from leaving the bubble, it does not mean that they can remain enclosed. This is because the Disney World staff who are in charge of catering are not isolated and thus can carry the virus inside the bubble.
Considering the fact that the state of Florida is one of the new emerging epicenters for Covid-19, along with the recent reopening of the amusement park, Howard’s confidence of the isolation seems to be exaggerated.
In order to ensure that everyone stays in the bubble, the NBA has decided to operate a hotline where anyone who is supposed to stay in the campus leaves the area. Howard is set to have been reported via the hotline after someone saw him walking around without a mask.
Because everyone who is inside the bubble signed a certified pledge to adhere to all health regulations, they can be penalized for going against their words. Two players who were caught outside the bubble have been placed under a 10-day quarantine for example.
During the same Instagram Live, Howard also disclosed that he does not believe in the merits of vaccination. Although he underlined that it was just his personal opinion, Howard clearly explains his position as an anti-vaxxer.
The new NBA season is set to begin this week, with the Lakers facing off against the Dallas Mavericks on July 23rd. Share with us your thoughts on this story, and be sure to follow us on Facebook for more news like this one.
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