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The last year or so has been quite the roller coaster. We have all experienced the many ups and downs of the Covid-19 pandemic, but in recent months, it seems the ride may be coming to an end. The country has opened up and, in many areas, life almost seems back to normal. However, with developing variants and increasing infection rates, it is looking like we may be stuck on the tracks for a little bit longer. Now, news headlines have been flooded with the imminent question: are we headed into another shutdown? After all of the progress that has...

With preseason practice and workouts approaching, it is time for high school football teams to start considering how they will keep players safe from bacteria, viruses, and germs throughout the season. Pads, jerseys, and other equipment in high school football programs are commonly reused and passed down through the years. As athlete after athlete practices, plays, and sweats in that equipment, germs, and bacteria begin to build up. This often-overlooked safety hazard exposes the players to a slew of health risks, such as infections, rashes, acne, and more. However, there are many easy ways to prevent these dangers. Here at...

  In less than two weeks, the best athletes from over 200 countries across the world will be gathered in Tokyo, Japan, to compete in the summer Olympic Games. But you already knew that! What you might not know about is the extent to which the Games are going to keep the staff and athletes safe. Of course, in these times of Covid-19, there is a long list of health and safety protocols in place to keep the thousands of Olympians safe as they travel to Tokyo and enter the “bubble” of participants. Competitors are being encouraged to avoid unnecessary...

In recent months, widespread vaccinations and a reduced number of Covid-19 infections nationwide have displayed America’s great progress toward escaping the pandemic that has impacted us all since March of 2020. In the wake of these breakthroughs, most states have lifted their mandatory mask mandates. There has been praise and criticism for this ruling. Personally, I am excited to finally be able to take the mask off for one main reason: acne. As a teenage intern here at Matguard, I have gone through this past year fighting off acne stemming from constant itching. As well as the trapping of heat...

  Looking back at the challenges of 2020, hopefully many schools will now begin to look forward to the opportunities of 2021. Summer Practices, Back to School, Full capacity crowds at Home Games, Live Recruitment, Homecoming, Awards Dinners and Ceremonies. Most schools have elevated their health and safety protocols which will help keep their school sports safe again, as they continue to fight a broad spectrum of germs & viruses. And we are not just talking about COVID-19, we are talking about skin and viral infections that were here long before COVID-19.  We also discovered looking back that a student...