CIAC will pause all fall sports activities until Aug 24

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Today's COVID-19 update in Connecticut: 8/18

➡️10,760 tests were administered and 40 came back positive
➡️This is a 0.37% positivity rate
➡️47 patients are hospitalized (increase of 5)
➡️Thankfully, no COVID-related deaths were reported

This is a very typical day for CT. the last two months have been this way.
So why the delay for sports?
Seriously how are things going to improve for the spring?

The numbers are low because kids are not at school yet. Once they return to the classroom positivity rate is sure to rise, family at home infected and a potential death rate increase. Add sports to the picture and you’ve got a cluster f problem + town cross contamination.

[Unregistered]

Mr Chicken Little up ^ here. Of course cases will go up - some, a small amount, maybe a lot. It's all about how quickly, how widespread and what the positivity rate is. I don't know anyone in CT that wants to see it turn into FL. People are wearing their masks and waiting with baited breath for school to start.

[Unregistered]

Football requires conditioning to start earlier because there is a phase in process before full pads and full contact. They spend weeks just working on proper form tackling to avoid head and spinal cord injuries. I would say that they deserve the extra practice time

they spend 3 hours total on heads up- if that at the HS level
they have a required # of hours of conditioning (10) before full pads- but thats because of heat issues
but most HS teams dont hit in practice any more, as crazy as that sounds- most practice days are in "uppers" only

[Unregistered]

The numbers are low because kids are not at school yet. Once they return to the classroom positivity rate is sure to rise, family at home infected and a potential death rate increase. Add sports to the picture and you’ve got a cluster f problem + town cross contamination.

Have you seen what is happening in CT lately?
Pool parties, BBQ’s, house parties, youth sports, tournaments, out of state travelers, sporting events with fans, casinos open, hotels open, etc etc etc
All of this has been happening for months and still not produced an increase in cases.
Even though we now know cases are not a good measurement and don’t mean anything
CT positive rate has remained between .6% - .9% (7 day average) for the last 75+ days.
Why should this change given the current activities happening in the state?
No logical reason. Our China Virus season has ended and we will not have another one.
Fear is a poor way to live.

[Unregistered]

Have you seen what is happening in CT lately?
Pool parties, BBQ’s, house parties, youth sports, tournaments, out of state travelers, sporting events with fans, casinos open, hotels open, etc etc etc
All of this has been happening for months and still not produced an increase in cases.
Even though we now know cases are not a good measurement and don’t mean anything
CT positive rate has remained between .6% - .9% (7 day average) for the last 75+ days.
Why should this change given the current activities happening in the state?
No logical reason. Our China Virus season has ended and we will not have another one.
Fear is a poor way to live.

At home during the summer, parents are responsible for the health of their children and other family members. Once they attend school (and play sports) the finger gets pointed at the schools if Covid transmission occurs. Lawsuits could arise if someone gets really sick.

[Unregistered]

At home during the summer, parents are responsible for the health of their children and other family members. Once they attend school (and play sports) the finger gets pointed at the schools if Covid transmission occurs. Lawsuits could arise if someone gets really sick.

Just more fear mongering. They will sue. How is anyone ever going to prove without a doubt where they picked up the virus.

[Unregistered]

Is CFC Park open

[Unregistered]

At home during the summer, parents are responsible for the health of their children and other family members. Once they attend school (and play sports) the finger gets pointed at the schools if Covid transmission occurs. Lawsuits could arise if someone gets really sick.

Lawsuits can definitely happen ... should be quite simple to pinpoint EXACTLY how and where a person contracted covid and whose fault it was. NOT!!! If you dont want your kid to get covid, wrap them in saran wrap and put them in the basement for a couple more years. By going out or participating in anything, we all assume the inherent risk! If YOU are uncomfortable with the risk, it's on YOU!

[Unregistered]

Lawsuits can definitely happen ... should be quite simple to pinpoint EXACTLY how and where a person contracted covid and whose fault it was. NOT!!! If you dont want your kid to get covid, wrap them in saran wrap and put them in the basement for a couple more years. By going out or participating in anything, we all assume the inherent risk! If YOU are uncomfortable with the risk, it's on YOU!

This is really what it should come down to. Each family makes its own decision based on their own situation. I had some morbidly obese guy recently tell me schools should be closed this fall because he's afraid he and his wife will be at risk from his kids being in contact with other kids. I mean, sorry pal, but everyone else doesn't have to change their behavior because of your personal situation.

[Unregistered]

Lawsuits can definitely happen ... should be quite simple to pinpoint EXACTLY how and where a person contracted covid and whose fault it was. NOT!!! If you dont want your kid to get covid, wrap them in saran wrap and put them in the basement for a couple more years. By going out or participating in anything, we all assume the inherent risk! If YOU are uncomfortable with the risk, it's on YOU!

Just about everything we do now will have Covid waivers - heck even Trump's Tulsa Covidfest had them. Will Herman Cain's family sue? If you want to participate you will have to sign something. It may not always be possible to trace the source of exposure but with an athletic team you can probably trace it back to Patient/team member A and see where it spread from there. You may or may not be able to figure out where Patient A got it from. If a school was proven negligent - say they knew they had cases but still went ahead and MORE people got sick - then there might be a case depending on the waiver language.

[Unregistered]

I was just reading through the incredibly lengthy document for Hybrid learing at our high school.
Here's just one section on social distancing....
STUDENT COHORTS AND SOCIAL DISTANCING
All school employees will assist in reinforcing the expectation that physical distancing/social distancing is maintained as much as possible.
The school administration will be prepared to assist staff and students in determining and maintaining social distancing between individuals to reduce the transmission of the virus per the public health guidelines at that time.
Principals will be prepared to communicate and adjust the approach to social distancing if guidance from the CDC or DPH changes due to shifting public health data or evolving understanding of the COVID- 19 disease, including transmission.
Each school will plan for the number of people that can be in all school spaces (library, cafeteria, gymnasium, counseling centers, and school offices) based on maintaining reasonable social distancing prior to use by a classroom or group.
Even with social distancing expectations in classrooms, school spaces and hallways, students and staff members will wear face coverings/masks in school and on the bus.
To the extent possible, the schools will create student/teacher classroom cohorts to minimize the mixing of student groups throughout the day. Consistent teams/cohorts will minimize cross-contamination of student groups.
Students may be a part of more than one cohort. For example, their classroom and bus cohort which may be two different groups of students.
Traffic patterns in hallways will be designed to promote social distancing during passing times.
Classroom seating shall be assigned to students at all times during the day. Any alternate seating or shared seating in reading nooks, group centers, and other areas will not be allowed.
Schools will restrict the sharing of educational materials between individuals. These materials include such items as books, manipulatives, computers, calculators, writing utensils, and art supplies. No two individuals should use the same materials in a given school day without appropriate cleaning/disinfecting in between use. Teachers should use technology to distribute learning materials wherever possible.
Backpacks will be used. Students will not have access to lockers.
The Superintendent of Schools will oversee school activities/athletics, which will be allowed in a limited capacity on a case by case basis.

Kids will attend school in-person 2 days a week to reduce by half the number of kids in the buidling at the same time. Masks will be worn at all times, constant sterilizing, social distancing, traffic patterns, no lockers, upgrading HVAC systems, limited seating on the bus, etc, etc.

If we are going to through all of this, how can we allow kids to play contact sports without masks against other schools? It just does not make any sense at all.

[Unregistered]

Just about everything we do now will have Covid waivers - heck even Trump's Tulsa Covidfest had them. Will Herman Cain's family sue? If you want to participate you will have to sign something. It may not always be possible to trace the source of exposure but with an athletic team you can probably trace it back to Patient/team member A and see where it spread from there. You may or may not be able to figure out where Patient A got it from. If a school was proven negligent - say they knew they had cases but still went ahead and MORE people got sick - then there might be a case depending on the waiver language.

What if a parent of an athlete decides to allow their kid to go school with a fever, cough (and not get tested for Covid) because they want to make sure he/she can play in the big game. Is there liability?

[Unregistered]

I was just reading through the incredibly lengthy document for Hybrid learing at our high school.
Here's just one section on social distancing....
STUDENT COHORTS AND SOCIAL DISTANCING
All school employees will assist in reinforcing the expectation that physical distancing/social distancing is maintained as much as possible.
The school administration will be prepared to assist staff and students in determining and maintaining social distancing between individuals to reduce the transmission of the virus per the public health guidelines at that time.
Principals will be prepared to communicate and adjust the approach to social distancing if guidance from the CDC or DPH changes due to shifting public health data or evolving understanding of the COVID- 19 disease, including transmission.
Each school will plan for the number of people that can be in all school spaces (library, cafeteria, gymnasium, counseling centers, and school offices) based on maintaining reasonable social distancing prior to use by a classroom or group.
Even with social distancing expectations in classrooms, school spaces and hallways, students and staff members will wear face coverings/masks in school and on the bus.
To the extent possible, the schools will create student/teacher classroom cohorts to minimize the mixing of student groups throughout the day. Consistent teams/cohorts will minimize cross-contamination of student groups.
Students may be a part of more than one cohort. For example, their classroom and bus cohort which may be two different groups of students.
Traffic patterns in hallways will be designed to promote social distancing during passing times.
Classroom seating shall be assigned to students at all times during the day. Any alternate seating or shared seating in reading nooks, group centers, and other areas will not be allowed.
Schools will restrict the sharing of educational materials between individuals. These materials include such items as books, manipulatives, computers, calculators, writing utensils, and art supplies. No two individuals should use the same materials in a given school day without appropriate cleaning/disinfecting in between use. Teachers should use technology to distribute learning materials wherever possible.
Backpacks will be used. Students will not have access to lockers.
The Superintendent of Schools will oversee school activities/athletics, which will be allowed in a limited capacity on a case by case basis.

Kids will attend school in-person 2 days a week to reduce by half the number of kids in the buidling at the same time. Masks will be worn at all times, constant sterilizing, social distancing, traffic patterns, no lockers, upgrading HVAC systems, limited seating on the bus, etc, etc.

If we are going to through all of this, how can we allow kids to play contact sports without masks against other schools? It just does not make any sense at all.

Because the risk of sustained close exposure while playing sports is minimal. Kids have been playing soccer without masks since late June with no uptick in affiliated cases. In fact our numbers have stayed confetti-worthy low. Outdoor sports does not = indoor time in the same classroom for hours with little fresh air.

Football is the harder one - closer and longer contact. If it weren't for the football crowd crying "it isn't fair" that their season gets moved, we wouldn't be debating this.

[Unregistered]

What if a parent of an athlete decides to allow their kid to go school with a fever, cough (and not get tested for Covid) because they want to make sure he/she can play in the big game. Is there liability?

What if the sun grew wings and soared around our galaxy toasting each and every planet?! Jesus H. Christ! If you're afraid, you deal with you. As much as you would like, you can not control everyone for your benefit or amusement. Control what you can control and stop whining!

[Unregistered]

What if a parent of an athlete decides to allow their kid to go school with a fever, cough (and not get tested for Covid) because they want to make sure he/she can play in the big game. Is there liability?

Dude, parents already do that. They give their kids some Tylenol and send them to school. They should be held accountable but there isn't much a school can do other than send the kid home. In most towns people find these things out pretty quickly. Who wants to be "that parent" responsible for an outbreak? But, perhaps now there will be stricter rules about it but for sure there will be societal pressure to be smart so that everyone can remain in school