Polk School Sports Suspended Due To Growing Coronavirus Concerns

POLK COUNTY, FL — All athletic programs at Polk County Public Schools are temporarily suspended in response to the coronavirus pandemic, a news release said.

“We have reached this decision in close collaboration with the Florida Department of Health in Polk County," Superintendent Jacquelin Byrd said. "Coronavirus cases are on the rise in our county. We must do everything we can to limit exposure and safeguard our students and community,”

At the start of the 2020-21 school year, PCPS implemented the following precautions in its athletic programs:

• Limited attendance at athletic competitions to allow for social distancing.
• Required spectators to wear face coverings.
• Posted signs at athletic venues reminding spectators not to attend athletic events if they are experiencing COVID-like symptoms.
• Required student-athletes and coaches to wear face coverings and practice social distancing as much as possible during practices and competitions.
• Required equipment to be more frequently sanitized.

School officials said that even with these coronavirus safety precautions in place, some student-athletes have tested positive for COVID-19. More than 50 student-athletes in the school district participating in winter sports have tested positive in recent weeks.

“Right now, we have cases among cheerleaders, basketball and soccer players, wrestlers and weight lifters,” said Scott Sjoblom, coronavirus response section chief with the Florida Department of Health in Polk County.

Senior Coordinator of Athletics Dan Talbot said the suspension of athletic programs is effective immediately. All practices and competitions are cancelled until Jan. 4.

“We will monitor the number of cases in our community throughout the winter break and will keep our community updated,” Talbot said. “We plan to restart our athletics programs on Jan. 4. We are pausing athletics to do our part in slowing the spread.”