The Gilmer County School System has taken steps to limit the possible spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus) after a recent spike in confirmed cases.
Thirteen Gilmer High School athletes are under a 14-day quarantine after indicating they may have visited a coronavirus “hot spot.”
As of Monday evening, all of the county’s athletic practices and conditioning sessions had been suspended for the remainder of the week. Sports will resume either next Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday, according to GHS athletic direction Matt Johnson.
A July 7 statement from the GHS Facebook page stated, “Over the past few days, we have had 13 student athletes, some of whom were in attendance at a community event last week (where several people have tested positive for COVID-19) and others who were identified during the screening process, who are being quarantined and cannot participate in practice for the next 14 days.”
The 13 were identified during a daily screening process. Prior to each conditioning session, athletes are asked if they have had a fever in the last week, have been diagnosed with COVID-19, have been in contact with anyone diagnosed with COVID-19 or if they have traveled to a COVID-19 hot spot.
Two days later on Friday, July 9, school system officials learned someone at Clear Creek Middle School tested positive for coronavirus.
“Clear Creek Middle School football had an individual attend two days of practice that tested positive officially with the department of public health,” superintendent Dr. Shanna Downs said during a Monday interview.
“We found that out at the end of last week. We canceled Clear Creek football for two weeks and made that official determination Friday after talking with public health. After we got that notification, I was able to have a list within minutes of every student and staff member who was at practice (last) Monday and Tuesday with that individual.”
Originally, GHS wrestling and cheerleading were the only sports to suspend activities last week after individuals may have come in direct or indirect contact with the virus.
“Students from those two sports attended the revival or something else, have family members in their home sick, those students are showing symptoms and those students are choosing not to go get tested,” Downs said. “Because of that, the department of public health can’t do any contact tracing or mandatory quarantines.
“So we’re kind of stuck in the middle with that because we know these students are showing symptoms, we know they’re living in a house with someone who is positive, but we don’t have the support of public health on that with contact tracing. We have common sense and we understand that if the parent tested positive and is showing symptoms, this child living with them who is now sick, chances are that’s what the child has, so we voluntary canceled those practices.”
Additionally, as part of the daily screening process, each athlete indicates whether they have had a cough, fever, sore throat, shortness of breath, a recent loss of taste or smell and their temperature is taken. All information is recorded and logged.
Gilmer has continued to comply with the Georgia High School Association’s guidelines in regard to social distancing, hand sanitizing and the sanitizing of equipment.
“We’ve had continued conversations with the department of public health to make sure we’re doing all the right things and taking all the precautions to keep these kids and coaches safe,” said Johnson.
“We’re encouraging students each day to inform coaches if they’re not feeling well and to tell them specifically what their ailment is. We’re filling out the chart and asking all the specific questions once they get there. If they go home because of a screening, then they are going to be encouraged to stay there for a substantial period of time.”
The GHSA has not issued any further guidance for summer conditioning since July 1.