Embrace your mask, Wolf fans. It’s staying, at least for indoor events. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)
As the Delta variant of COVID-19 dominates the news, fans will still have to wear masks at some games, but most high school athletes won’t.
That’s the quick take-away from new regulations released Wednesday night by the Washington State Department of Health.
Under the guidelines, masks won’t be required for athletes, regardless of vaccination status, in any outdoor sports or “moderate-contact” indoor sports such as volleyball.
The only sport Coupeville High School plays which is considered a “high-contact” indoor sport is basketball.
Unless things change by the time winter rolls around, hardwood players can still escape the use of masks if they are vaccinated, or agree to regular testing.
Cheer, which is considered “a high aerosol-generating activity” has similar requirements to basketball — athletes can go mask-less if fully-vaccinated, or they participate in testing.
Screening testing for unvaccinated athletes who want to compete without a mask must be performed twice weekly, using a molecular or antigen test.
Masks will be required for everyone in weight rooms, however, regardless of vaccination status, and physical distancing must be practiced.
The DOH terms weight rooms “high-risk indoor settings,” saying “they are often poorly ventilated, crowded and used by athletes from sports of multiple contact levels, as well as PE students.”
While most athletes won’t be required to wear masks during competition, they will continue to do so on bus trips.
Schools are required to follow the CDC order for “all riders and drivers to wear a mask on buses or other public transportation, regardless of vaccination status.”
Masks are recommended for indoor practices, and during competition, will be required for “all coaches, athletic trainers, and other support personnel in K-12 settings, regardless of vaccination status.”
Referees will get some leeway this school year.
If they are fully-vaccinated, refs do not need to wear masks when “actively officiating” indoors, but must pop them back on in down times, such as talking with coaches, or between quarters.
Unvaccinated referees must wear face coverings at all times when officiating, unless they participate in screening testing.
Last, but not least, all spectators attending indoor K-12 sporting activities, regardless of vaccination status, have to mask up.
Audience members should be seated in “family units,” according to DOH regs, and those small groups should be spaced at least three feet apart.
That seems to imply fans will only be required to wear masks for volleyball and basketball, and not for soccer, cross country, football, tennis, softball, baseball, and track.
Though, as with all things pandemic, things can and likely will change at a moment’s notice.
Stay tuned.
To peruse the complete “K-12 COVID-19 Requirements for the 2021-2022 School Year,” pop over to:
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