MAYFIELD, Ohio — The volleyball team at Mayfield High School has been hit by the coronavirus.
School officials confirmed Monday that three players tested positive for COVID-19.
"Three Mayfield Varsity volleyball players have tested positive for COVID-19, following the results of rapid COVID-19 tests over the weekend. District officials immediately contacted the Cuyahoga County Board of Health to report the exposure. As a result of the testing, Mayfield’s freshmen, JV and Varsity volleyball teams are suspended from play and practice until further notice," Mayfield City Schools said in a release given to 3News.
The news was also announced in a letter distributed by the superintendent of the Kirtland Local School District after their team played Mayfield in a scrimmage.
The athletes were said to be asymptomatic until Aug. 23 when they started exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19.
Kirtland school officials said all players and coaches who were present at the game will be self-monitoring their health conditions closely. Kirtland's superintendent told 3News that on Monday a parent called in to say their child, a varsity member of the volleyball team, is showing symptoms.
While the district is currently awaiting testing results to confirm whether the player is positive for COVID-19, Kirtland has suspended practices and games until further notice.
Here is the letter from Kirtland's superintendent in full:
It has come to our attention that three players on the Mayfield High School girls’ volleyball team have tested positive for COVID-19. Our Kirtland girls’ volleyball team scrimmaged the Mayfield team on Wednesday, August 19. At the scrimmage, all the Mayfield girls were temperature checked, none had fevers or symptoms. The athlete in question and two other Mayfield volleyball players have confirmed positive results using the Rapid Test that was given on Friday, August 21 because of a learned possible exposure. The athletes were asymptomatic until August 23 at which time they started experiencing symptoms of COVID-19.I
In a second update Monday, Kirtland's superintendent also indicated that a member of the school's band is also being tested.
Based on recommendations from the Lake County General Health District, all players and coaches who were at the game will be monitoring their health closely for any COVID-19 symptoms including fever, chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headaches, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, diarrhea, nausea or vomiting, and loss of taste or smell, that may arise over the next several days. They have been encouraged if they do develop symptoms to stay home and contact the school administration. In the meantime, we encourage everyone to please help our programs and district remain safe by following the recommended safety protocols: How to Protect Yourself and Others.
The volleyball coaches will check and monitor symptoms before and at least once during all upcoming events until told otherwise. They will document each time they check and monitor symptoms. Once again, parents have been encouraged to monitor symptoms and assess their student-athlete daily at home and not to send them to practice/games if the athlete is experiencing even the slightest COVID-19 symptoms.
Thank you for your understanding as we try to keep everyone as safe as possible during these times.