The NFL on Friday announced that 7,500 healthcare workers from across the country are invited to attend the upcoming Super Bowl next month in Tampa, Florida as thanks for their service during the coronavirus pandemic.
CBS This Morning first announced the decision, airing a video of NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell greeting the medical staff at Sarasota Memorial Hospital. While the announcement states that most of the healthcare workers will be picked from hospitals and health care systems in the Tampa and central Florida area, each NFL team will select four vaccinated healthcare workers from their hometowns to attend.
“These dedicated health care workers continue to put their own lives at risk to serve others, and we owe them our ongoing gratitude,” Goodell said in a statement. “We hope in a small way that this initiative will inspire our country and recognize these true American heroes. This is also an opportunity to promote the importance of vaccination and appropriate health practices, including wearing masks in public settings.”
The league plans to have 14,500 fans in attendance in addition to the healthcare workers, for about 22,000 fans in total. The NFL says that it has talked to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, local health officials, and the Florida Department of Health in order to create safety guidelines.
“We are grateful for the leadership the NFL has shown in thanking our health care workers and promoting vaccine acceptance around Super Bowl LV. I applaud them for making safety their top priority, and for taking a thoughtful approach to make sure that the Super Bowl will be a safe and meaningful experience for fans and the Tampa Bay community,” Florida state Surgeon General Dr. Scott Rivkees said in a statement.
Super Bowl LV will take place on February 7, beginning at 6:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.
Theodore Bunker ✉
Theodore Bunker, a Newsmax writer, has more than a decade covering news, media, and politics.
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