Florida Considers WWE an “Essential Business” During Covid-19
Would you consider spandex-clad athletes performing bodyslams and aerial acrobatics essential for getting through the Coronavirus outbreak? The state of Florida sure have after their governor – Ron Desantis announced that WWE would be operating as per usual because it was deemed as ‘essential’.
Mayor of Orange County, Florida – Jerry Demings, addressed the issue at a press conference:
Footage of @OCFLMayor‘s statement on WWE running live TV tapings within the county right now: pic.twitter.com/6HVJr2TxcO
— Harry (@harryaaron) April 13, 2020
Demings said, “I think initially there was a review that was done and they were not initially deemed an essential business. With some conversation with the Governor’s office regarding the Governor’s order, they were deemed an essential business. And so, therefore, they were allowed to remain open.”
WWE will continue to tape shows without audience at their Orlando-based WWE Performance Center. TMZ claims that the company was still using the Performance Center to shoot their Monday night show – Raw. WWE also released a statement regarding how they would operate for the remainder of the outbreak:
“We are producing content on a closed set with only essential personnel in attendance following appropriate guidelines while taking additional precautions to ensure the health and wellness of our performers and staff. 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.”
It’s a little bizarre that the company would continue operating despite one of their on-air talents testing positive for Coronavirus according to Complex, but WWE claims that the person in question did not contract it within the company nor pass the virus on to other staff members and has apparently recovered from it.
WWE told TMZ, “We believe it is now more important than ever to provide people with a diversion from these hard times.” At the very least, the people of Florida and WWE fans around the world can rest a little easier knowing that they’d be able to enjoy the latest tapings of Monday Night Raw.
However, that doesn’t make the empty stadiums any less awkward (IMO) but I’m sure many hardcore fans have already gotten used to it:
(*Featured image taken from The Rakyat Post)