The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association announced Friday that a tournament worker at last week’s Class 4A and 3A Hardwood Classics in the Tacoma Dome has tested positive for COVID-19.
The WIAA said in a statement that it was informed of the situation Friday. The 4A and 3A state basketball tournaments took place March 4-7.
The WIAA said it has been in contact with the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department and that health officials have deemed the situation to be a low risk for those involved with the event, due to the individual becoming symptomatic after the tournament.
According to the WIAA’s statement, the individual first showed symptoms on Monday, March 9. Therefore, health officials deemed Saturday, March 7, as the earliest the individual may have been contagious, the statement said.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, individuals with COVID-19 are thought to be most contagious when they are most symptomatic. However, the CDC says that some spread might be possible before people show symptoms.
Per the TPCHD’s recommendation, the WIAA said it has notified people who may have been in close contact with the individual to self-monitor for symptoms of COVID-19 over the next eight days.
The WIAA said it has not been notified of any other individuals involved in the tournament who have showed symptoms of the new coronavirus, which recently was classified as a global pandemic by the World Health Organization.
Six local teams played in the Tacoma Dome for the 4A and 3A Hardwood Classics.
Three of those teams — the Glacier Peak boys, Glacier Peak girls and Arlington girls — played Saturday on the final day of the tournaments.
The Glacier Peak girls played Wednesday through Saturday. The Glacier Peak boys and Arlington girls both played Thursday through Saturday.
The Marysville Pilchuck boys and Shorecrest girls teams each played Wednesday through Friday.
The Marysville Getchell boys team played only on Wednesday.
The WIAA said it has been working closely with the Washington State Department of Health prior to and during the state basketball tournaments.
The WIAA said it will continue to seek guidance from health experts regarding upcoming spring high school sporting events.
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