Two high school football teams from the Edmonds School District have canceled their Week 2 games after one person from each program tested positive for COVID-19.
Meadowdale and Lynnwood were slated to begin Wesco 3A South play Friday night with the Mavericks facing rival Edmonds-Woodway and the Royals visiting Snohomish.
“We didn’t really have a choice whether or not to cancel both of those games,” Edmonds School District athletics director Angie McGuire said. “There was a positive case in each program and in looking at close contacts it took enough kids out that we couldn’t field a team safely for either program.”
“As with everything right now, we’re following Department of Health guidelines to dictate a response to any positive case,” she added.
State Department of Health guidelines call for unvaccinated athletes, coaches, trainers and other personnel who come in close contact with a confirmed case to quarantine immediately, even if they’ve received a negative test. Vaccinated participants considered as a close contact do not have to quarantine as long as they aren’t showing any COVID-19 symptoms.
“We as a school district are continuing to encourage all of our students and student-athletes to get vaccinated,” McGuire said.
The plan is for both teams to return to the field next week.
Edmonds-Woodway and Snohomish have both scheduled new opponents for Week 2. The Warriors face Emerald Ridge at 8 p.m. at Edmonds Stadium and the Panthers host Class 2A No. 3 Squalicum at 7 p.m.
McGuire said finding a new game for Edmonds-Woodway this week was a quick process.
“There’s other teams in the state that are in the same position, unfortunately,” she said. “… There were a handful of teams looking for games.”
Wesco athletics directors plan to discuss how canceled league games will impact conference standings at their Sept. 15 meeting.
At least five high school football games involving Snohomish County teams have been affected by the coronavirus thus far.
On Aug. 24, Wesco 4A juggernaut Lake Stevens suspended all football activities until Sept. 4 after two players tested positive for COVID-19. The decision resulted in the cancellation of the Vikings’ first two games of the season, highly anticipated showdowns with 4A playoff contenders Eastlake and Mount Si.
Lakewood had to reschedule its Week 1 game after issues related to COVID-19 forced visiting Steilacoom to pull out of their matchup. The Cougars filled the open spot with a game against North Creek.
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