Wellesley Schools Resume Winter Sports Despite High COVID Numbers

WELLESLEY, MA — Last Wednesday, Wellesley Public Schools paused all winter sports until further notice due to rising COVID-19 numbers, but now, the district says they've changed their mind.

On Monday, WPS said in a statement, "We all agreed that winter athletics could safely resume," after meeting with the town's health department to help figure out accommodations to make this happen.

"All social distancing and mask policies must be used while in the changing room area," the statement from the district said. "This is intended to reduce the amount of time the students are in the locker rooms together."

Locker rooms will no longer be used as storage areas but now will only be used as changing rooms before practice and games but not after or during.

The district says in order to make this work, students, and coaches who are indoors for practices and games must continue to be masked. When traveling to a game masks must be worn, windows must be open, and students must be spread out as much as possible on the bus.

This change of pace comes less than a week after the school district canceled all winter activities citing "a major increase in cases on our athletic teams," over the school's winter break.

Boston Public Schools remain firm on their stance to pause all winter athletic games and practices to combat positive COVID-19 cases in schools. Working with the advice of the Boston Public Health Commission, their decision will remain in play until at least Jan. 10.