UHSAA Releases Statement On High School Sports Following New COVID-19 Mandates
Nov 9, 2020, 9:35 AM
Corner Canyon’s Ryan Cahoon (4) carries the ball for a first down during a high school football game against Skyridge at Skyridge High School in Lehi on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2020. (Yukai Peng, Deseret News)
(Yukai Peng, Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The Utah High school Athletics Association (UHSAA) released a statement following Utah Governor Gary Herbert’s announcement of new COVID-19 mandates.
The mandate postpones all extracurricular high school activities except for the high school football playoffs that are currently underway. The mandate also allows intercollegiate sports – like football – to continue being played.
.@GovHerbert has declared a new State of Emergency. New orders include a statewide mask mandate, limits on social gatherings, bar and restaurant restrictions, hold on sports and activities, and expanded testing. Effective Nov. 9 to Nov. 23. https://t.co/xXevN3XIgg pic.twitter.com/Sh9QTqNCos
— State of Utah COVID-19 Response (@UtahCoronavirus) November 9, 2020
The announcement came on Sunday evening and included these two stipulations in regards to sports.
- No youth/high school sports and activities
- Weekly testing on college campuses
“Association staff will work with the Governor’s office and the State Health Department to understand the unique impacts to UHSAA activities, including the conclusion of the UHSAA State Football Championships and UHSAA winter activities,” read part of a statement from UHSAA.
You can read the full statement below.
High School football will be holding its state championship and semifinal matchups this weekend and next weekend.
Governor Herbert also issued other mandates as follows:
- Statewide mask mandate
- Gatherings limited to the same household only
- Masks and physical distancing between household groups at all businesses, including bars and restaurants
This will be effective beginning Nov. 9 to Nov. 23.
The University of Utah football team had their first game of the 2020 season canceled due to an outbreak of COVID-19 on the team and it is still undecided whether they will play this Saturday’s game against UCLA.
For complete information on the state of Utah’s news COVID-19 guidelines, visit KSLTV.com here.
