Coronavirus impact on the UFO community

With COVID-19 creating a world-wide pandemic that has led to closures, social distancing, and preventive measures, another result is dominating the news cycle. While it is the top story on the nightly news, collectively we are learning the medical and economical impacts, which has hit some in the UFO community.

Researcher Ryan Sprague relies on his work in theater in New York, but with Broadway shut down he’s hoping his large fan base for his Somewhere in the Skies podcast helps by purchasing bonus episodes on Patreon.

“I’m extremely fortunate to have this avenue (Patreon), as many others don’t have that option out there,” said Sprague. “In these uncertain times, I’m using this self-quarantine time to create as much content as I can over on my main feed, and plenty of bonus episodes on Patreon. We are all suffering from this pandemic… this can cause great stress, but I hope my podcast can help ease people’s minds even just for an hour or so.”

To some, it’s business as usual as the UFO Festival in Roswell, which is still four months away, has no plans to postpone. The UFO Festival in Edinburgh, Texas has moved its event from April to August.

In terms of UFO news, it hasn’t been slow, but stories about the owner of Skinwalker Ranch by VICE, and and the To The Stars / U.S. army deal being FOIA protected have essentially been “buried” by coronavirus updates.

Filmmaker Seth Breedlove’s “On The Trail Of UFOs” ( read review here) is nearing release, and with many home from work, it is an opportune time to view it.

“We made the decision last week to continue with the release date as planned,” said Breedlove. “While the shutdowns, and social distancing are affecting traditional avenues such as theaters, we don’t see that ebing the case with platforms like Vimeo, OnDemand, and Amazon. There isn’t much attention on the project as we’d normally like, but that’s understandable given COVID-19, and the enormity of what we’re facing. I do think the project will still find its audience, and offer people a much-needed escape.”

-By MIKE DAMANTE