With COVID-19 cases spiking, one Midlands school district is delaying sports workouts
The rise in coronavirus cases in South Carolina caused one Midlands school district to push back starting its summer sports workouts.
Newberry County schools, which consist of Newberry, Mid-Carolina and Whitmire high schools, announced Sunday that it won’t be starting summer workouts Monday as planned.
“Due to the rise in number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in South Carolina and Newberry County, we have decided to postpone the start of fall sports summer workouts until further notice,” said a post made to Newberry High School’s Twitter page. “Please know that this decision was made in an effort to protect the health and well-being of our student-athletes, coaches and staff. We will closely monitor this situation and stay in contact with DHEC as we move forward. We look forward to getting back to practice and play as conditions permit.”
The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control reported 907 new coronavirus cases Sunday. That comes after the two highest totals in the state on Friday and Saturday, where more than 1,000 cases were reported each day.
Public schools around South Carolina started Phase 1 of summer workouts June 8. Gray Collegiate was the first Midlands school to begin workouts that day.
Kershaw, Fairfield, Lexington 1 and Lexington 3 started workouts last week. Lexington-Richland 5, Lexington 2 and 4 are planning to begin Monday as planned. Richland 2 is scheduled to start June 29 and Richland One will start July 6.
South Carolina Independent Schools Association members began Phase 1 workouts June 1 with Midlands schools such as Hammond and Heathwood Hall starting June 8. SCISA schools were scheduled to start Phase 2 on June 18. The second phase allows more players in each workout group and the use of a ball.
Schools have taken extra precautions to conduct workouts safely, including daily temperature checks, signing COVID-19 waivers, sanitizing areas before, during and after workouts, and no more than nine athletes and one coach in a group during Phase 1.
The first high school football games are scheduled for Aug. 20.
The South Carolina and Clemson college football teams began voluntary workouts and tested athletes when they arrived earlier this month. On Friday, Clemson reported 23 of its players had tested positive for coronavirus.
This story was originally published June 21, 2020 at 5:45 PM.
