Health officials with the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas sent a letter to area school districts Thursday recommending they cancel winter indoor sports and activities. Officials said in the letter that while COVID-19 infections have been reported in schools, so far schools have been able to take steps to reduce the risk of further transmissions and to stop outbreaks from happening. However, officials said they are concerned about a recent rise in coronavirus cases, especially as holiday gatherings are scheduled and events head indoors. “Given the dire number of COVID-19 infections we have seen over the past few days, we will need to do even more to mitigate viral spread as we head into fall and winter,” the letter states. “As you know, the cooler seasonal temperatures will mean outdoor options become less of an option and indoor activities increase. SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, spreads even more easily in indoor environments. In the coming months, we expect to see an even bigger increase in the number of our residents infected with the virus due to indoor gatherings related to holidays, etc.”Officials said the place administrators have the best chance of controlling the spread of COVID-19 is within the schools themselves. “As you know, the risk of infections is higher with any amount of in-person learning,” the letter said. “Unfortunately, athletics and extracurricular activities increase the risk even more because of excessive exhalation, close physical contact, and inconsistent mask wearing.” In the letter, the UG Public Health Department strongly urged districts to not allow indoor sports or activities such as basketball or wrestling to proceed, given the community transmission risks. The department outlined a primary and secondary recommendation, with the primary being the cancellation of all indoor sports and activities. Officials said, in a second recommendation, if schools do make the decision to go forward with winter sports, activities or clubs that the participating students be cohorted into the same classes to reduce possible spread and to limit spectator attendance to immediate family only. Officials said this is not a health order barring sports, like what was issued ahead of the start of the school year. It is a recommendation for individual school boards to discuss.
KANSAS CITY, Kan. —
Health officials with the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas sent a letter to area school districts Thursday recommending they cancel winter indoor sports and activities.
Officials said in the letter that while COVID-19 infections have been reported in schools, so far schools have been able to take steps to reduce the risk of further transmissions and to stop outbreaks from happening.
However, officials said they are concerned about a recent rise in coronavirus cases, especially as holiday gatherings are scheduled and events head indoors.
“Given the dire number of COVID-19 infections we have seen over the past few days, we will need to do even more to mitigate viral spread as we head into fall and winter,” the letter states. “As you know, the cooler seasonal temperatures will mean outdoor options become less of an option and indoor activities increase. SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, spreads even more easily in indoor environments. In the coming months, we expect to see an even bigger increase in the number of our residents infected with the virus due to indoor gatherings related to holidays, etc.”
Officials said the place administrators have the best chance of controlling the spread of COVID-19 is within the schools themselves.
“As you know, the risk of infections is higher with any amount of in-person learning,” the letter said. “Unfortunately, athletics and extracurricular activities increase the risk even more because of excessive exhalation, close physical contact, and inconsistent mask wearing.”
In the letter, the UG Public Health Department strongly urged districts to not allow indoor sports or activities such as basketball or wrestling to proceed, given the community transmission risks.
The department outlined a primary and secondary recommendation, with the primary being the cancellation of all indoor sports and activities.
Officials said, in a second recommendation, if schools do make the decision to go forward with winter sports, activities or clubs that the participating students be cohorted into the same classes to reduce possible spread and to limit spectator attendance to immediate family only.
Officials said this is not a health order barring sports, like what was issued ahead of the start of the school year. It is a recommendation for individual school boards to discuss.
