Guest Commentary: Keep COVID-19 at bay after vaccination

The vaccination process continues in our community at the State Farm Stadium, 1 Cardinals Way, Glendale and other locations but everyone needs to keep in mind that after you get your two vaccination shots, you still need to keep COVID-19 out of your lives by doing what you have been doing to this point.

Medical experts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and others in authority who work in the area of infectious disease are urging everyone to continue to wear masks, keep six feet apart and avoid large crowds.

It is unknown at this time how Major League Baseball will handle spring training but at least one stadium in the West Valley is preparing for some degree of crowd gathering. If you drive by Surprise Stadium, 15930 N. Bullard Ave., which is the spring training home of the Texas Rangers and Kansas City Royals, you will see things getting set up in a much different way than in years past. You do not see the large eating and drinking tents in right field.

No matter what, if crowds are allowed in, you will need to be extra careful and keep a safe distance while masked up. It is simply not worth letting our guard down, especially if you have an underlying health condition that puts you at greater risk.

It was very strange watching the Waste Management Phoenix Open minus the huge crowds we are accustomed to seeing at the “Greatest Show On Grass,” but the decision was made to restrict attendance to 5,000 people per day. That was done to help keep COVID-19 at bay and save lives. Those who were there wore masks. It was hard to keep them apart down the stretch of the final holes but tournament officials had their eyes on the crowd and did what they could to keep people separated.

So, my friends and neighbors, get your shots and then keep up the fight of our lifetime. Do not give up and do not give in. We have lost far too many people and we must honor all of their lives by doing our part to keep each other safe.

Editor’s Note: Gary Cohen is the host of the Rec Center Show on 103.1 KSCW, which airs 8 a.m. every Tuesday.