An Irish pub in Spain is banning a favorite singalong classic song amid the coronavirus pandemic, as hospitality venues look to make sure they are providing a safe atmosphere for would-be revelers.
Yes, it's being reported that Murphy’s Irish Bar in Corralejo, Spain, has taken the unusual step of banning Neil Diamond's classic tune Sweet Caroline - a favorite among bar-goers and sports fans alike, due to its affiliation with several clubs and major boxing events.
According to a photo that recently surfaced on Facebook, the song has been banned in the bar, perhaps due to its long history of arm-in-arm bonhomie, encouraged by the lyrics.
The Facebook post reveals a sign in the bar explaining why Sweet Caroline will no longer be played there.
“Due to COVID-19, Sweet Caroline is banned. There will be no: touching hands, reaching out, touching me, touching you.” It reads.
While the sign may or may not be tongue-in-cheek, the Irish Post reports that last month the World Health Organization announced that there was evidence COVID-19 might be spread by tiny moisture particles capable of hanging in the air in unventilated or closed spaces.
Per Fox News, some experts believe that such droplets may be expelled at a greater number by people when they're singing. In indoor spaces, this might lead to a spread in infectious diseases such as COVID-19.
And due to the singalong nature of Sweet Caroline, this potential problem becomes more pronounced if more people were to be singing in loud voices in an enclosed space together.
As we mentioned earlier, it might just be a light-hearted sign in a bar, but in the midst of a pandemic where social distancing is key, "touching hands" is an outmoded concept. Perhaps other venues will soon be altering their playlists, too. Sorry, Neil Diamond.
