Amid the latest surge in COVID-19 cases, the Polk County Health Department is calling on school districts to stop high school sports until cases decrease. The letter sent by the director of the Polk County Health Department to athletic directors, superintendents and the high school sports union said they need to slow the trajectory of COVID-19. The letter said the situation is “very real, urgent and not slowing down anytime soon without significant mitigation efforts.”Health Department Director Helen Eddy said one of those efforts would be to temporarily suspend all youth extracurricular activities including high school winter sports until things improve. The department said with a county positivity rate near 20% and high hospitalizations, it’s concerned about athlete, spectator and community safety. “We know that when people come together for long periods of times, especially during sports, we think about basketball, we think about wrestling, sports that have really close contact. We know e will see cases of COVID-19 raised,” said Nola Aigner Davis, the Polk County Health Department spokesperson. Sports are already on hold for many Polk County districts, including Des Moines, because of virtual learning. Gov. Kim Reynolds allowed sports and extracurriculars to continue in her latest proclamation, but spectators are limited to two per athlete and must wear masks. But the department doesn’t believe that’s even safe right now. “Our rate is just too high to allow spectators,” Aigner Davis said. The Iowa High School Athletic Association and the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union responded to the letter. They released the following statement: “The IHSAA and IGHSAU appreciate the considerations of the Polk County Health Department with regard to winter activities during the COVID-19 pandemic. As with all member school decisions, schools in Polk County may continue or suspend activities as they see fit in their school districts and in accordance with State of Iowa and Department of Education guidance. We work closely with the Governor’s Office, the Department of Education and the Iowa Department of Public Health and adhere to their requirements and decisions with respect to COVID-19 and interscholastic activities. We will take your concerns under advisement and continue to monitor all information as we enter the scheduled winter seasons.” The Des Moines and Johnston districts said their boards are considering extending their remote learning waivers which would also keep winter sports sidelined. Read the letter to the athletic unions here.
POLK COUNTY, Iowa —
Amid the latest surge in COVID-19 cases, the Polk County Health Department is calling on school districts to stop high school sports until cases decrease.
The letter sent by the director of the Polk County Health Department to athletic directors, superintendents and the high school sports union said they need to slow the trajectory of COVID-19.
The letter said the situation is “very real, urgent and not slowing down anytime soon without significant mitigation efforts.”
Health Department Director Helen Eddy said one of those efforts would be to temporarily suspend all youth extracurricular activities including high school winter sports until things improve.
The department said with a county positivity rate near 20% and high hospitalizations, it’s concerned about athlete, spectator and community safety.
“We know that when people come together for long periods of times, especially during sports, we think about basketball, we think about wrestling, sports that have really close contact. We know e will see cases of COVID-19 raised,” said Nola Aigner Davis, the Polk County Health Department spokesperson.
Sports are already on hold for many Polk County districts, including Des Moines, because of virtual learning. Gov. Kim Reynolds allowed sports and extracurriculars to continue in her latest proclamation, but spectators are limited to two per athlete and must wear masks. But the department doesn’t believe that’s even safe right now.
“Our rate is just too high to allow spectators,” Aigner Davis said.
The Iowa High School Athletic Association and the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union responded to the letter. They released the following statement: “The IHSAA and IGHSAU appreciate the considerations of the Polk County Health Department with regard to winter activities during the COVID-19 pandemic. As with all member school decisions, schools in Polk County may continue or suspend activities as they see fit in their school districts and in accordance with State of Iowa and Department of Education guidance. We work closely with the Governor’s Office, the Department of Education and the Iowa Department of Public Health and adhere to their requirements and decisions with respect to COVID-19 and interscholastic activities. We will take your concerns under advisement and continue to monitor all information as we enter the scheduled winter seasons.”
The Des Moines and Johnston districts said their boards are considering extending their remote learning waivers which would also keep winter sports sidelined.
Read the letter to the athletic unions here.