Howard County Public Schools Halts All Extracurricular Activities Through Jan. 7

ELLICOTT CITY, Md. (WJZ) — Howard County Public Schools is suspending each sporting events and different extracurricular activities done Jan. 7 successful effect to rising COVID-19 cases, Superintendent Michael Martirano said Wednesday.

Martirano said those activities are being halted instantly arsenic portion of the schoolhouse district’s efforts to curb the dispersed of COVID-19 cases, which person risen astatine an “alarming rate” since the Thanksgiving vacation break.

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There are astir 300 affirmative cases, the superintendent said, and 3,720 students and 146 unit members are successful quarantine. That’s compared to Nov. 18 erstwhile determination were 75 cases and less than 1,200 students and unit successful quarantine.

“The escalation successful affirmative cases has enactment a strain connected schoolhouse wellness unit to accurately place and implicit adjacent interaction communications successful an businesslike manner,” helium said. “In fact, the existent fig of cases successful galore of our schools has go challenging from a notification standpoint.”

The measurement applies to each diversion practices and games, philharmonic and theatrical rehearsals and performances, extracurricular activities and tract trips. It’s effectual instantly and runs done Jan. 15, but the contented volition beryllium revisited Jan. 7.

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Students whitethorn conscionable oregon signifier virtually, but they volition not beryllium allowed to usage immoderate of the district’s indoor facilities for those purposes, Martirano said. The suspension does not impact before- oregon after-care programs.

The territory is moving with parent-teacher associations to displacement in-person meetings online.

Martirano said administrators are moving with the Howard County Health Department to supply COVID-19 screenings successful schools. He’s besides asking parents to cheque connected their children regular and to not nonstop them to schoolhouse if they person symptoms.

“It is perfectly indispensable that we bash each we tin to support schools unfastened and guarantee each schoolhouse remains a steadfast learning situation for students and staff,” helium said.

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CBS Baltimore Staff