KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Blue Valley School District has confirmed more than 100 Blue Valley West football players are in a 14-day quarantine after three people “associated with the program” tested positive for COVID-19.
According to a district spokesperson, the decision was made after consulting with the Johnson County Department of Health and Environment.
QUARANTINED: @41actionnews confirms the entire Blue Valley West football is in quarantined after three people "associated with the program" tested positive for COVID-19. pic.twitter.com/aOnYbbsPpU
— Ariel Rothfield KSHB (@arothfield) August 20, 2020
The first Blue Valley West football game is scheduled for Friday, Sept. 4, against Blue Valley Southwest. With players expected to still be in quarantine, it’s unknown what will happen with that game.
According to the school district, Blue Valley North’s football team was able to resume practice Wednesday after three players tested positive for COVID-19.
Johnson County health officials explained why BV West's entire team was asked to quarantine when other teams have not.
When it comes to any type of public health investigation, every situation is different and our goal is to help mitigate the spread of disease and protect the public. JCDHE assesses the compliance to public health measures (e.g., masking, physical distancing) and thus the risk for spread within a team. JCDHE works with schools to identify those in close contact (within 6 feet for 10 minutes or more) with the positive individual(s) and excludes only those close contacts; however, when this is not possible, the entire team may be excluded.
Blue Valley is the only school district in Johnson County that has yet to determine its back-to-school plan.
On Tuesday, the Board of Education voted against following the Johnson County health department’s criteria to reopening schools. The county suggested schools start remotely because it was in the “red zone.”
Blue Valley announced it is conducting its own study and will announce its reopening plans by the end of Friday.
