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High School Sports Does Not Increase The Spread Of COVID-19, According To UW Study

 

By Sarah Vandermolen

photo courtesy of adexchanger.com

A recent study conducted by the University of Wisconsin Madison suggests that high school sports do not increase the spread of COVID-19.

According to the Chicago Sun Times, "Researchers led by Dr. Andrew Watson surveyed 207 schools that restarted fall sports in September, representing more than 30,000 athletes, more than 16,000 practices and more than 4,000 games."

The results showed "271 athletes contracted the virus overall compared with 2,318 Wisconsin children aged 14-17 over the month of September," according to the Chicago Sun Times. Research also showed that no sports were found to have a higher incidence rate of COVID-19. Luckily, none of the research cases resulted in hospitalization or death. 

The Chicago Sun Times also states, "All the schools reported they had a formal plan in place to reduce the risk of transmission, including monitoring for symptoms, temperature checks at home and on site, masks for staff and players off the field, social distancing, increased facility cleaning and staggered arrival and departure times for events."

Overall, the results suggest that participating in high school sports does not increase the risk of contracting COVID-19, however, more studies need to be conducted in order to provide a "complete picture," researchers wrote.

This news comes at a time when the number of coronavirus cases are at an alarming high in the state. Wisconsin was one of the first states to end their quarantine, with the state's Supreme Court lifting the stay-home order on May 13, thirteen days before Governor Tony Evers intended for the order to end.

Due to the increase in cases, "The Madison Metropolitan School District announced Monday that it will not hold any winter athletics programming through at least Jan. 24. Dane County health officials have outlawed games and competitions for medium- and high-risk sports, including volleyball, soccer, basketball, tennis, football, and hockey," according to the Chicago Sun Times. 

Wisconsin high school athletes will have to hold out hope for the return of school sports in the spring.

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