Wake County again delays when schools can begin on-campus workouts and practices
Wake County Public Schools students won’t be able to return to athletics or extracurricular activities as early as expected.
The NCHSAA earlier this month said schools in the state could resume those activities; however, Wake and other counties in the state elected to wait until July 6.
On Monday, though, WCPSS announced that on-campus workouts and practices will not resume next week.
“After careful review and consultation with athletic directors, principals and band directors, voluntary on-campus workouts and practices will not resume on July 6,” the online statement read.
WCPSS hopes to determine a new date for resuming athletics and co-curricular activities on July 1, the same day Gov. Roy Cooper is expected to make recommendations for reopening schools. In it’s statement, WCPSS said its decision was made by the “extensive requirements from the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services, the N.C. High School Athletic Association and WCPSS Health Services.”
Time needed for coronavirus screening training
To resume activities, every student will be required to have daily temperature checks and symptom screenings before practices or workouts. That means all athletic directors, trainers, coaches and band personnel will need training related to screening students. All schools will also require enough Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for students in athletics and other summer activities.. Each school in Wake County will also need proper signage to direct students to areas to ensure social distancing.
Each school will also need proper time for coaches, athletic directors, trainers and band directors to review health forms for all participants.
On June 8 the NCHSAA ended its dead period, announcing that schools across the state could return to workouts on June 15, if the school systems allowed it. Wake County Schools announced workouts could resume on July 6.
Some private schools across the state have already returned to workouts.
Laboratories confirmed another 1,342 coronavirus cases in North Carolina on Monday, bringing the total to 63,484 since the state’s first reported case in March.
The state Department of Health and Human Services reported 14,400 coronavirus tests completed Monday, bringing the total to 886,305. The percentage of cases that were positive Monday was 9%, down 1 percentage point from Sunday.
