As the one year anniversary of the first quarantine comes up, sports finally start to open back up again, with some limitations of course. Due to the change in regulations, moderate contact youth sports are able to open in red and purple tier counties, and high contact sports in orange tiers. El Dorado Union District falls into these categories that can participate, allowing us to open back up again.
Sports that are allowed to start again include: football, cheer, baseball, rugby, water polo, and softball. Football and water polo players must be tested every week when the county’s case rate is between 7-14 to every 100,000 people. For those who compete, tests must be taken with enough time for results to come in 24 hours before the competition. Once our county reaches a case rate of 6 or less per 100,000 people, testing will no longer be required.
Unfortunately, these protocols do not apply to indoor sports in the yellow tier yet. These indoor sports include: competition cheer, basketball, volleyball, or wrestling. We can only hope that the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) will soon respond to the wishes to open these sports.
As we see COVID-19 cases continuously decline in El Dorado County, it is asked that the school community help keep the athletes safe by participating in a COVID safe practice. CDPH will continue to govern attendance levels for crowds, allowing only immediate family members to watch. Household members who plan to attend are asked to socially distance from non-household members when watching games or competitions at the schools. As always, masks are required for everyone visiting the schools. And any athletes showing signs of any illness should not be sent to school or allowed to attend practices or games. We look forward to seeing everyone back soon.
Resources:
http://www.eduhsd.k12.ca.us/documents/Resources/Press%20Releases/2021/February%2023-%202021%20Reopening%20of%20Youth%20Sports.pdf - February 23 21 Reopening of Youth Sports
#LetThemPlayCA on Twitter (9:50 AM on 2/19/21)
Cover Image: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/may/01/community-sport-resume-australia-coronavirus-restrictions
About the Contributor
Staff Writer, Eliza Stephen