As we near the new winter season, we find ourselves in the midst of an historic pandemic. We are seeking answers to growing questions as our Country’s leaders, medical and scientific experts seek not only an understanding of Covid 19, but are expending herculean efforts to find both treatments and vaccines, in an attempt to return us to normalcy. It appears that for the foreseeable future our world has changed and we will continue to live in uncertain times.
This uncertainty led the LTPA to suspend its traditional monthly social events through December 31, and possibly through the entire season. The LTPA Board, which deliberated with great care, believes that is in the best interest of our members and our beloved community to err on the side of caution.
In recent years, our membership has grown to well over 400 members and our parties and gatherings in recent years have exceeded over 250 for each of our events. Our indoor gatherings average 200+. The board discussed holding such indoor or outdoor gatherings given the established protocols, but any option we considered would have limited the number of people and constrained each event, creating complexities and ultimately risks. LTPA’s gatherings are by nature, social gatherings. They would likely be inconsistent with State, County and National guidelines, as well as the Landings protocols.
The LTPA is grateful to the Landings Management and Board who have worked hard to maintain court play since Covid 19 found its way to Florida, while creating safe and healthy protocols. As of this writing, we are hopeful that tennis play will continue on our courts with the community coming together and working together in a spirit of support and understanding, recognizing how complex the pandemic has become.
Perhaps we can learn from the experiences of the 1918 Pandemic, which created worldwide havoc and killed millions. In so many ways, we are blessed to fight Covid 19 with our modern medical resources, knowledge, skills and facilities, as well as world-wide near instantaneous communication sources. As much as we have to learn about the Virus and work ahead to find treatments and vaccines, we have incredible advantages compared to how society dealt with the virus in 1918. Writing in the Smithsonian Magazine in 2020, author John Barry took an extensive look at the 1918 Spanish Flu which is most relevant to guide us today. At that time, a plea from the American Red Cross for “patience, prudency, understanding and care for one another” seems as relevant today as it did 100 years ago.