With so many countries on lockdown and non-essential businesses closing, the question of what counts as essential is constantly cropping up.
For instance, many argue that bubble tea stores here are non-essential, but they remain open during the circuit breaker period.
Reader: Those people have probably never had bubble tea
I agree.
But there’s one thing everyone can agree on; whatever business or enterprise remains open, it has to be an environment where safe distancing can be practised easily.
That’s why one state in America has deemed wrestling to be an “essential business”, because the wrestlers always wear masks and stay 6m apart from each other at all times.
Reader: You’ve never seen a wrestling match, have you?
Nope.
WWE Allowed to Continue Coz It’s Deemed as ‘Essential Business’
Florida’s governor Ron DeSantis has decided to allow World Wrestling Entertainment’s (WWE) live shows to continue by designating them as an “essential business”.
Even though the governor was hesitant at first, DeSantis finally ordered a lockdown for the state of Florida until 30 April, joining over 30 other states with stay-at-home orders.
The lockdown order, which will take effect on Thursday (16 April), will direct “all Floridians to limit movements and personal interactions outside the home to only those necessary to obtain or provide essential services or essential activities.”
Floridians probably thought essential businesses meant restaurants and supermarkets, not this:
WWE resumed live shows – but without fans – in Florida on Monday (13 Apr). And it’s not because the governor happens to be a big fan of Brock Lesnar (yes, he’s still around).
It’s because “employees at a professional sports and media production with a national audience” are seen to be “critical to Florida’s economy”.
1 Wrestler Tested Positive For COVID-19
Many of you might disagree with this move, especially since one WWE employee tested positive for the coronavirus.
WWE was tight-lipped about who it actually was, however, saying the patient was “an on-screen talent, but not a member of the WWE roster.”
A Diversion During Hard Times
The WWE federation also attempted to justify the move, saying “We believe it is now more important than ever to provide people with a diversion from these hard times”.
“As a brand that has been woven into the fabric of society, WWE and its Superstars bring families together and deliver a sense of hope, determination and perseverance.”
Are we watching the same thing here? They mean this will bring some hope and determination to society?
But hey, whatever cheers people up during this gloomy period, right? Why else would people watch a documentary about a guy named Joe Exotic?
The Situation In The US
Florida itself has more than 20,000 Covid-19 cases, but that’s just a tiny fraction of the whole country.
The US has the highest number of coronavirus infections by quite a large margin, with a staggering 644,089 cases.
28,529 people have died from the disease in the country so far.
Despite this, President Trump said the US has “passed the peak” of new Covid-19 cases and predicted some states would reopen this month.
In any case, no matter how bad the situation in the US gets, you can count on one thing; sweaty men and women in ridiculous outfits will keep pretending to hurt each other for our amusement.
