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Essex County Health Department Authorizes Resumption of Higher-Risk Sports

January 28, 2021
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The Essex County Health Department, in consultation with county leadership, including Board Chairman Shaun Gillilland and Medical Director Dr. Michael J. Celotti, and in collaboration with more than a dozen counties in various regions throughout the state, is authorizing the resumption of “higher risk” K-12 sponsored sports in Essex County.
“After careful consideration and thorough review of the updated Interim Guidance for Sports and Recreation during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency, and with the acknowledgment of the important role sports can play in childhood development and achievement, we are permitting student-athletes to partake in higher-risk sports beginning February 1, 2021,” stated Linda Beers, Director of Public Health for Essex County.
Examples of higher risk sports include football, wrestling, ice hockey, rugby, basketball, contact lacrosse, volleyball, martial arts, and competitive cheer/dance.
“The Essex County Health Department has issued a guidance document to school districts in Essex County that outlines the minimum requirements, metrics, and recommendations that school sports teams and leagues need to follow in order to successfully resume these higher risk activities,” continued Beers. The requirements include the need for school districts to develop Board of Education sport-specific safety plans, seek parent/athlete informed consent, and implement various health and safety measures. In order for higher risk sports to proceed, the 7-day rolling average percent positivity in Essex County must remain at or below 4.0%; hospital capacity in the region must be above 15%, and the region’s rate of hospitalizations cannot be unacceptably high.
“This decision is in no way intended to force school districts into activities that they are not comfortable resuming,” clarified Beers. “Districts or schools can choose to enact stricter requirements – or opt-out of higher-risk sports activities until a later date,” Beers noted.
The guidance document issued to schools emphasized the role of the local health department and NYSDOH to monitor and evaluate COVID-19 data daily, and to suspend higher-risk sports activities if indicated.
The health department expects to announce approvals and guidance for recreational higher risk youth and amateur (non-scholastic) sports leagues before February 1.