Coronavirus Concerns Cause CIAC to Cancel All Remaining Winter Tournaments in CT

Report by Paula Antolini, March 10, 2020, 12:15PM EDT

Today the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference (CIAC) who regulates school sporting events in Connecticut, announced at a press conference that they are canceling all remaining winter tournaments due to concern about the Coronavirus/COVID-19. This includes boys and girls basketball, ice hockey, and swimming championships.

“At this time, no schools in Connecticut have been closed. The CIAC is closely monitoring the latest information and reports from the SDE and DPH and currently, we are proceeding with our boys swimming, girls’ basketball, boys’ basketball, and hockey tournaments as scheduled,” the conference announced via press release.

“At this time, no schools in Connecticut have been closed. The CIAC is closely monitoring the latest information and reports from the SDE and DPH and currently, we are proceeding with our boys swimming, girls’ basketball, boys’ basketball, and hockey tournaments as scheduled,” according to a press release from the conference.

“CIAC has communicated with our member schools to reinforce the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and Connecticut DPH preventative recommendations as well as reinforcing the need to clean and sanitize spectator areas for schools hosting events, and emphasizing that despite the commitment our student-athletes to their respective teams reminding student-athletes and parents that if they are sick, they should remain home from school and the game,” they said.

According to the Connecticut State website on the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19):

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is responding to an outbreak of respiratory disease caused by a novel (new) coronavirus that was first detected in China and which has now been detected in many locations internationally, including in the United States. The disease has been named “coronavirus disease 2019” (abbreviated “COVID-19”).
 
In Connecticut and throughout the world, influenza (flu) activity is high. The CDC encourages all people aged 6 months and older to be vaccinated. It is not too late to get vaccinated for the flu. Check with your healthcare provider, call your local health department, or visit the HealthMap Vaccine Finder (adults) for availability of flu vaccinations.

Data updates from the Connecticut Department of Public Health State Laboratory as of 6:00 p.m. on Monday, March 9, 2020:

  • Total patients who tested positive (including presumptive positive): 2
    • Fairfield County: 1
    • (Information on the second case will be available after the patient has been notified)
  • Total patients who tested negative: 54

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