Yesterday Polk County Public School (PCPS) leaders made the decision to temporarily suspend all athletic programs. Effective immediately, all practices + competitions have been cancelled until January 4, 2021.

This decision came after dozens of student-athletes tested positive for COVID-19 in the last few weeks.

Polk County Public Schools implemented these precautions in its athletics programs at the beginning of the school year to combat COVID-19:

⚽️ Equipment must be sanitized on a more frequent basis.

⚽️ Coaches and student-athletes are required to wear face coverings/masks and to practice social distancing whenever possible during practices + competitions.

⚽️ There is limited attendance at athletic competitions + spectators are required to wear face coverings/masks.

⚽️ Signs have been posted at athletic venues urging anyone with COVID-19 symptoms not to attend.

Student-athletes have tested positive throughout the school year, but in recent weeks, 50+ student-athletes enrolled in winter programs have tested positive for the Coronavirus. There are positive cases across several sports, including soccer, basketball, cheerleading, wrestling, and weight lifting.

Superintendent Jacqueline Byrd said the decision was made in collaboration with the Florida Department of Health in Polk County + Dan Talbot, Senior Coordinator of Athletics, says PCPS is “ pausing athletics to do our part in slowing the spread,” and that they will monitor the number of cases through winter break to keep the community updated.

According to the state's county report for Dec. 14, of the 31,323 confirmed cases in Polk County, 3,576 have been added in the last two weeks, causing the county to see percent positive rates between 7.86 and 10.42%.

If you have COVID-19 symptoms, check out this list of testing sites in the area.