KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City, Missouri, Health Department has recommended that Center High School cancel its high school volleyball season due to a positive COVID-19 result within the team.
Center School District Leadership informed Center School District Families of the decision in an undated letter obtained by 41 Action News.
“We have been working alongside the Kansas City Health Department and partnering with their expertise to guide our decision making related to the COVID-19 pandemic” Center Superintendent Dr. Yolanda Cargile said in a statement. “While it is a difficult decision to cancel the Volleyball season, we value and honor our public health expertise to create a healthy environment for our students and staff.”
Right now, the only Yellowjackets program affected by the decision is volleyball, but the KCMO Health Department would prefer to see all indoor sports delayed until the spring.
“Volleyball is an indoor sport and there is no practical way to physical distance,” KCMO Health Department Director Dr. Rex Archer said in a statement. “Even if players wear a mask, the exertion and indoor setting create greater transmission risks. We recommend all high school indoor sports, volleyball and basketball be delayed and reassessed in the Spring.”
Center volleyball took part in summer workouts and followed all guidance from the district, athletics administrators and health experts.
Center schools will conduct “a deep clean and sanitation” of all athletic facilities before school begins next week and will make a decision on basketball season closer to its scheduled start in November.
