Boyertown football player tests positive for COVID-19

A Boyertown football player has tested positive for COVID-19 and forced the suspension of all extracurricular activities on Friday.

Voluntary sports workouts and other activities including band have been halted until Sept. 7 as a precautionary measure. The delayed start for participating Pioneer Athletic Conference schools is scheduled for Sept. 7 with a first date for interscholastic competition set for Sept. 25.

“We have been in touch with the Department of Health and are waiting for further direction,” wrote Athletic Director Nick Palladino in a letter posted on the Boyertown School District website. “In the event that anyone would need to be quarantined, the Boyertown Area School District will notify them directly.”

A student-athlete testing positive for COVID-19 in Berks County has occurred before. Five schools, including Exeter, Schuylkill Valley, Muhlenberg, Reading and Wyomissing, have been forced to suspend voluntary workouts since July 1.

Sources indicated the positive test was from a football player, though Palladino declined to confirm, only allowing in the statement ‘an individual associated with the Boyertown Area Senior High School Football team.’

“It was reported to us following the health and safety plan,” Palladino said. The plan requires selfreporting in the event of experiencing symptoms.

Prior to Friday’s suspension, Palladino was pleased with the compliance of staff and students during voluntary workouts that included upwards of 200 students across all activities.

“We did this as a precautionary measure because the season is starting in two weeks,” Palladino said. “We don’t want anything to happen so we thought it was best to shut things down and give the kids who are starting virtual learning a week off of sports and allow them to figure out their academics first.”

Boyertown previously announced the cancellation of middle school sports on Aug. 26.

When asked if the positive test and shutdown could jeopardize Boyertown’s participation in fall sports, Palladino could not speculate.

“Honestly, I don’t know,” he said. “Our board approved our health and safety plan and we’re following that protocol to the best of our ability.”