MHSAA has questions about new testing policy
Friday provided another new wrinkle in the ever-changing landscape of high school sports.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services held a press conference to provide an update on the rising cases of COVID-19 in the state.
Among the news from the press conference is that, beginning April 2, the MDHHS will be requiring rapid antigen testing for athletes ages 13-19 that are taking part in school-sanctioned, contact sports.
In the latest MDHHS pandemic order, it cites the following:
In the past four weeks, spread of COVID-19 has risen 105% amongst persons aged 10-19. As of March 11, local health departments had reported 162 new and ongoing outbreaks among K-12 schools, with 54 of those outbreaks reported in the week prior. Additionally, there are 135 identified outbreaks among minors participating in school and club sports. The social activities surrounding sports, such as team meals and parties, may be a major factor in this spread. To promote the continued safe operation of in-person schools, additional mitigation measures related to youth sports activities are warranted.
MHSAA Executive Director Mark Uyl held a Zoom conference with the media on Friday afternoon, but didn’t have many answers to the new testing program, as the MDHHS is set to release information on testing guidance going forward on Saturday.
“If you’ve read the order that was posted this morning, the MDHHS will have updated testing guidance that will be released tomorrow on March the 20th. So many of the specific questions about testing the mechanics, we think that much of it will be similar to what was done in the fall pilot program and what’s been done now for weeks in wrestling,” Uyl said. “(The MHSAA believes) it will be the same general approach to our other sports. But, we just don’t have those details yet, at this time.”
Uyl was unclear as to the frequency of the tests, if all spring sports would be required to take part, and how it impacts out-of-season teams that will be going through offseason training. The only certainty is that the MDHHS will be providing the tests to the schools at no charge.
The testing program will have a
slight impact on winter sports. Individual wrestling finals will take place after the start date of April 2, so that will include 896 wrestlers that are already in a rapid testing program as is.
It will also include 32 combined girls and boys basketball teams that will be in the quarterfinal stage of the postseason tournament.
Whitmer and the MDHHS have been vocal in citing youth sports as a key reason behind the rise in cases in Michigan and the impact it’s having on the ability for in-person education.
“Many of the outbreaks are related to sports. In January and February local health departments identified 315 outbreaks associated with different sports teams related to clubs, schools and recreational sports,” MDHHS Chief Medical Executive Dr. Joneigh Khaldun said. “This is concerning. Outbreaks in this age group can have an impact on our children’s education. The most important thing we all want for our children is to have in-person learning and not have school closures or children out of school because of COVID-19 or needing to quarantine because they have been exposed.”
Uyl believes that pinpointing
the rise in cases on just sports is overlooking many factors that have changed in recent weeks.
“I think our case numbers are going up. Can you pinpoint it on one specific area? I think it’s a lot of different areas, and we knew that we would have to manage some positive cases when more sectors of our society have reopened, when more faceto-face learning in schools has really reemerged here in 2021,” Uyl said. “I think, that is just a very honest assessment. If sports is the key, I would just simply ask the question, well, what is Wisconsin, Indiana and Ohio doing to play and continue their athletics without seeing the increases that we’ve had in Michigan?”