Governor Tim Walz attended the Minnesota Department of Health press briefing today, and one of the questions asked was the future of the Winter Sports season.
Governor Walz said that he expects more information on winter sports to come out in the next couple of days. He said they are seeing more spread through sports. “The issue around athletics is an incredibly tough one,” said Walz. “I think you will see some guidance coming from the state on this within the next day or so.”
Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm said she would like to see a pause from high school sports down to youth sports. “We have had a deep concern about competition amongst schools from differing areas, and we know we are seeing interstate play among club sports, and we are trying to get clarified guidance on that in the next day or so,” said Malcolm. “Numbers are moving fairly fast, and the number of cases associated with sports is growing, and we are urging there to be a pause on play and practice. We are in dialogue with our colleagues in education and the high school league, and from a health advice standpoint, we would like to see a pause on sports.”
Malcolm reiterated she would like to see a pause on youth sports and high school sports.
Outbreaks reported by sport in Minnesota –
Hockey – 46
Volleyball – 41
Football – 35
Basketball – 20
Soccer – 15
The Minnesota Department of Health’s Infectious Disease Director Kris Ehresmann said at least 10 percent of all cases of COVID-19 in schools had been related to sports. In the last week, two schools had to go to distance learning because of sports exposures.
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