Four students or staff members taking part in summer sports conditioning at Discovery, Mill Creek, North Gwinnett and Parkview high schools have tested positive for COVID-19, Gwinnett Schools spokeswoman Sloan Roach confirmed Wednesday.
The four, plus others who have been in direct contact with them, will not participate in campus activities until they have medical clearance from a physician, Roach said. Voluntary summer conditioning at those schools are continuing.
Gwinnett County School’s Return to Conditioning Plan follows guidance from the Georgia Department of Health in handling those who become infected.
“These guidelines call for only those who had direct contact with the ill person to be notified,’’ Roach said. “Those individuals are sent home to self-isolate per DPH guidelines and to seek medical attention, if appropriate.’’
Citing HIPAA concerns, Roach would not reveal if those diagnosed with COVID-19 were students.
The GHSA this week allowed schools to increase to 50 the maximum number of students and staff in one workout group on campus at one time. A single positive test could send dozens of students into self-isolation, per DPH guidelines. Roach did not indicate the number of students impacted.
Several schools have confirmed COVID-19 diagnoses since the GHSA allowed voluntary summer conditioning to begin June 8. Medical officials in Cobb and Paulding counties reported positive cases at Pope, McEachern and Hillgrove in Cobb County in the past week. Those schools are continuing with summer workouts.
Three southeast Georgia high schools have suspended summer conditioning until July because of positive tests. Those are Effingham County, Glynn Academy and Long County.
Summer workouts in all sports are voluntary until July 27 for football and Aug. 1 for other fall sports. Those are the dates that mark the official start of those seasons.
About the Author
