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COVID-19 presents challenges for Detroit Tigers' opening day

"Comerica Park" by Dave Hogg is licensed with CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/

Baseball’s Opening Day is fast approaching and with it are calls to increase capacity at Comerica Park – the home of the Detroit Tigers. Right now, attendance would be capped at one thousand fans.

Speaking today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer says stopping the spread of COVID-19 at stadiums presents some challenges.

“Often, you know that game starts at one time so you get a lot of people funneling in together and ends, you know, at a certain time and you've got everyone exiting together,” said Whitmer.

Adding to the complications, Whitmer says is the presence of more-contagious strains of the disease.

"Michigan's got some of the highest variance spread in the nation," says Whitmer. "And these variants are easier to contract.” 

Still, Whitmer says state health officials are looking at options to increase attendance ahead of April 1st – the Tigers home opener.