It’s no surprise that the coronavirus has become the center of attention of everyone’s lives.

The coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, is an infectious respiratory illness. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the virus began in Wuhan, China. Where this virus actually came from, no one knows. However, there has been much speculation that the virus came from bats. The CDC states that the virus “had some link to a large seafood and live animal market, suggesting animal-to-person spread. Later, a growing number of patients reportedly did not have exposure to animal markets, indicating person-to-person spread.”

That’s the scary part. It began as a zoonotic virus, meaning that the virus spread from non-human animals. The COVID-19 is also known as a novel virus, meaning that it is a virus that has not been seen or studied before. So, not only is this a virus that scientists had not studied before, but it is also a virus that has been passed from an animal species to a human species.

Symptoms of the COVID-19 include a cough, fever, and shortness of breath. However, symptoms that healthcare workers are also observing include nausea, diarrhea, sore throat, and body aches.

But how has this impacted students’ lives?

Well, as a student myself, there is still much work to be done. Along with the classwork, papers, and quizzes to complete, there are still chores to do at home. Staying inside all day can get a bit, what’s the word?

Boring.

Old.

Not fun.

Usually, after a hard day at school, many students would go straight to the locker rooms, change, and head to their sports. 

The spring season brings a new hope inside of students. The warmer weather, the end of school approaching, and not to mention the longer days. Students ache to leave their wooden desks to go outside and enjoy the warm weather with their spring sport. The spring sports at the high school include track and field, golf, softball, baseball, lacrosse, and boy’s tennis.

Unfortunately, that is no longer an option for the students of New Providence High School.

All sports at the high school and around the world have been suspended until further notice. According to the New York Times, the N.B.A., N.H.L., M.L.S., and Major League Baseball have all suspended play. The N.C.A.A. has canceled all of its championships and the PGA Tour, which is the professional golf league, has also suspended play. For soccer, the Premier League, All Champions League, Major League Soccer, and Europa League, have suspended all games “indefinitely.” Formula One and NASCAR racing has postponed its races until further notice. In tennis, some of the leading tournaments, such as the BNP Paribas Open, The Miami Open, and The Fed Cup finals were all postponed. 

Even the 2020 Tokyo Olympics have been postponed until 2021.

With all of the sports postponed until further notice, what have some of the New Providence athletes been doing during this long break?

As a track and field athlete, I know that I have still been trying to stretch and keep in shape. Going for long runs has helped me concentrate and feel much better after staying inside doing schoolwork.

Christina Kalliaras, a freshman, is a lacrosse player. For her, the most difficult part about not having practices with other people is that “you can’t practice plays or work as a team.” 

Not having people to practice with is especially hard if you participate in a team sport like lacrosse, baseball, softball, and even tennis. 

Megan Barlow, a sophomore, is also a lacrosse player, who plays attack. She played lacrosse in the spring of 2019 and commented that she loved the season and her fellow teammates. In order to keep in shape in case the season does return back to normal, she says that her fellow teammates and other athletes should just keep practicing in their own yards. 

Van Lawler, a freshman, had just joined the track and field team. He was excited to join the team and is disappointed that the season was going to be cut short. He keeps in shape by running about 2 miles a day. Even without coaches telling you how much to run or really what to do, Lawler states that the best way to stay in shape in case the season returns to normal would be to have and  complete a schedule.

Juliana LaPara, a junior, runs track and competes in the 400 and 800. She states that she “miss[es] the competitiveness and the hard training. All though [she’s] been training on my own, it’s not the same caliber as the season. [She] miss[es] the challenge of our hard workouts and [she] want[s] to get better.”

Alex Munies, a freshman, was looking forward to playing golf in the spring. She says that “I was really looking forward to it my freshman year, and I already bought all of my clothes, equipment, etc.” 

What seems to be difficult about being a freshman playing spring sports is that you have already bought everything necessary for the season and you never get a chance to use it. Not only is that a bit depressing, but it’s also very disappointing.

Alexandria Bannworth, a junior, plays softball and is a utility player, meaning that she can play anywhere on the field. While it is important to stay caught up with your sports and education, Bannworth suggests to “take this time to catch up on your own personal mental health. Try out meditation, yoga, stretching, maybe try something new that you find relaxing or enjoyable. Most importantly, stay safe.”

However, while the suspension of sports for all students is difficult, whether you’re just used to watching the sports or playing them, it seems to have been hitting the seniors the hardest. 

This is their final season to participate in high school sports and they won’t be able to enjoy it because their sports have been suspended. They also would not be able to receive the joys of running their last race, playing in their last game, or enjoying their last moments as an athlete for New Providence High School. 

As this virus continues to spread, please be sure to stay active and stay healthy. According to Medicine Plus, health information provided to the public by the U.S. National Library of Medicine, “Exercise causes change in antibodies and white blood cells (WBC). WBCs are the body’s immune system cells that fight disease.”

Exercise and a proper diet can boost your immune system, allowing you to fight off disease quicker and stay healthy longer.

Stay healthy, stay safe, stay active, NPHS.