After 500 attended the Juneteenth Ride, dedicated to the late George Floyd and the Movement for Black Lives, some of us had hope that H-Town could represent in this year’s WNBR season. However, the recent spike in diagnoses and hospitalizations from COVID-19 makes the risk of any group ride too risky a proposition, even with masks and face shields.
At this time, we do not have any information as to whether any participants in the Juneteenth Ride have contracted COVID-19, let alone whether they contracted it during the ride. We also have no solid information on whether any participants in the New Orleans and Portland “Just Ride Naked” days have been infected.
What we do know is:
- The largest medical center in the world is running out of ICU beds.
- Area hospitals are redirecting ambulances to other hospitals that have space for new patients.
- Houston is back in the national and world news for suffering yet another disaster, this time in the form of a novel coronavirus.
On top of that, the Governor’s Office—wisely if belatedly—has ordered the closure of bars statewide. Thus the ride would not have access to the usual stops along the route.
The COVID-19 story changes almost daily. While we can foresee it getting worse for a while, it may take a sudden turn for the better. If the situation improves, there may be an unofficial Bare As You Dare ride this fall.