Exeter football player tests positive for coronavirus; workouts halted

Exeter High School announced Sunday night that a football player has tested positive for COVID-19 and that the school is suspending voluntary workouts for the team for the next 14 days.

The school sent correspondence to players and their families, and also posted it on the district’s website and on social media.

The letter said the district was alerted Sunday of the positive test, and that the correspondence was being sent to the parents and guardians of players who may have been exposed at football practice between July 1 and July 15.

In addition to suspending workouts, the district also is encouraging the football players and coaches to self-quarantine. Also, any football player who had been practicing with other Exeter teams is not permitted to do so for 14 days.

School officials will follow up with information about restarting football workouts prior to the end of the quarantine, the letter said.

Gov. Tom Wolf gave the go-ahead on June 10 for athletes to return to the field. Nine Berks schools, including Exeter, began voluntary workouts July 1. Four began before that and six after.

In order to return, the PIAA directed each school district to develop a comprehensive health and safety plan that would address matters such as temperature checks, social distancing, shared equipment and the cleaning of facilities and equipment.

Last week, PIAA Executive Director Dr. Robert Lombardi said it was the governing body’s intention to start fall practices and games on time and to play state tournaments to their completion, provided health conditions do not worsen.