Patrick Hite
Staunton News Leader
STAUNTON — Staunton High School became the second varsity football team in the area to confirm that it will miss time because of players testing positive for COVID-19.
Superintendent Garett Smith confirmed the news Thursday evening that Staunton will not only miss its scrimmage at Western Albemarle scheduled for this Friday, but also its regular season home opener set for Friday, Aug. 27 at home against Wilson Memorial.
When asked how many players tested positive, Smith said he didn't have the information at this time.
Stuarts Draft also announced that it is shutting down its football program for the week because of COVID. Draft's season opener against William Monroe is still scheduled for next week, but has been rescheduled from Friday, Aug. 27 until Saturday, Aug. 28 at 3 p.m.
Per the Virginia Department of Health, the City of Staunton had nine new cases of COVID reported on Thursday, Aug. 19. With a 10.8% positivity rate, Staunton is considered to be in the highest level of community transmission.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, when a community is in the highest level, high-risk sports like football should be canceled, unless all participants are fully vaccinated. There has been no indication from school officials that any sports are being canceled at Staunton High beyond the two football games.
A letter did go home to parents of Staunton High School students Thursday indicating that "a student or staff member in our school has been diagnosed with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)."
It's unclear if that person was associated with the football team, but the letter did say that the person "was on the school premises on August 16" but there was no exposure to any students per the health department.
There was also a letter sent to parents of Staunton High School students on Wednesday with the same message, that a student or staff member has been diagnosed with COVID-19, was on school property Aug. 16, but there was no exposure to students.
Staunton News Leader
STAUNTON — Staunton High School became the second varsity football team in the area to confirm that it will miss time because of players testing positive for COVID-19.
Superintendent Garett Smith confirmed the news Thursday evening that Staunton will not only miss its scrimmage at Western Albemarle scheduled for this Friday, but also its regular season home opener set for Friday, Aug. 27 at home against Wilson Memorial.
When asked how many players tested positive, Smith said he didn't have the information at this time.
Stuarts Draft also announced that it is shutting down its football program for the week because of COVID. Draft's season opener against William Monroe is still scheduled for next week, but has been rescheduled from Friday, Aug. 27 until Saturday, Aug. 28 at 3 p.m.
Per the Virginia Department of Health, the City of Staunton had nine new cases of COVID reported on Thursday, Aug. 19. With a 10.8% positivity rate, Staunton is considered to be in the highest level of community transmission.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, when a community is in the highest level, high-risk sports like football should be canceled, unless all participants are fully vaccinated. There has been no indication from school officials that any sports are being canceled at Staunton High beyond the two football games.
A letter did go home to parents of Staunton High School students Thursday indicating that "a student or staff member in our school has been diagnosed with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)."
It's unclear if that person was associated with the football team, but the letter did say that the person "was on the school premises on August 16" but there was no exposure to any students per the health department.
There was also a letter sent to parents of Staunton High School students on Wednesday with the same message, that a student or staff member has been diagnosed with COVID-19, was on school property Aug. 16, but there was no exposure to students.