At least 9 North Texas schools impacted by COVID-19 after latest athlete tests positive
Multiple schools in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex have been hit with the coronavirus this week, including Southlake Carroll, forcing it to close a part of its summer strength and conditioning program.
The district was notified on Tuesday that one of its high school football players tested positive for COVID-19 while attending the sport-specific workout in the indoor facility and weight room at Carroll Senior High School.
According to Carroll ISD, the student-athlete showed initial symptoms that included sore throat and heavy breathing after attending workouts on June 8 and June 9. The student became ill and hasn’t returned since.
CISD reported 300 high school students in all sports during last week’s workouts.
In a email obtained by the Star-Telegram from Carroll ISD and Superintendent Dr. David Faltys, “Coaches and athletes in the student’s cohort group have already been contacted individually. The coaches and athletes in this small cohort group will be required to quarantine for two weeks and will not be allowed back to workouts during that period per the University Interscholastic League rules.
“Based on the information that we have gathered, it has been determined that the end of the 14-day incubation period for anyone possibly exposed to this student athlete is Wednesday, June 24.”
CISD’s email, which was sent out to all parents, coaches and athletes this week, stated that the indoor facility and weight room will be closed until further notice to allow staff to disinfect and deeply sanitize both areas.
However, outdoor workouts for all sports will continue for high school and middle school athletes at Carroll Senior HS.
“We are working with the Tarrant County Health Department. Until they can come inspect the indoor workout facility and the weight room, these two facilities will be closed,” CISD said. “Performance Course and our coaches are doing an amazing job implementing the safety protocols set forth by the UIL, TCHD and Texas Education Agency. We are hopeful the facilities will reopen for use again soon.
“[The TCHD] guidance was to temporarily shut down the two indoor facilities where the symptomatic student had been the first two days of the workouts. CISD specifically asked if we needed to shut down completely and they said no. We closed the indoor workout facility and the weight room down even though the facilities have been cleaned and sprayed with disinfectant nightly. They will be inspected and we anticipate they will be allowed to reopen Monday.”
Performance Course, a program that helps many local schools such as Allen, Aledo and Highland Park with strength and conditioning, has been helping Carroll since the UIL allowed workouts on June 8.
“Staff and students are urged to contact Carroll ISD at the first sign they begin showing any symptoms, Faltys said. “We will monitor this situation and provide additional information as needed. We hope for a successful recovery for our student.”
After a three-month layoff from any UIL activity, the league started strength and conditioning programs on June 8 with restrictions regarding to social distancing, including groups of 10-15, staying 6-10 feet apart and having 25% capacity for any indoor workouts.
The UIL loosened those restrictions on June 9, increasing group sizes and moving indoor capacity to 50%, which can start on Monday.
At least eight more schools in DFW have since shut down their summer workouts following players who tested positive for COVID-19, including Arlington Martin, Plano, Frisco Lebanon Trail, Burleson, Denton, Braswell, Sanger and Krum.
Other districts across the state impacted include West Orange-Stark, Bay City, Weslaco, San Benito, Orangefield and Brownsville.
This story was originally published June 18, 2020 at 6:05 AM.
