MECHANICSBURG, Pa. – During Tuesday’s PIAA Board Meeting, the PIAA board voted to send a statement to schools ‘reiterating the mask order’ while telling schools to consult with their solicitors to decide their individual policy.
That was among several issues discussed by the board the were COVID 19 related.
The updated mandate requires masks to be worn at all times whenever people are together indoors with others who don’t live in their household, even if they are physically distant from each other. This applies to all indoor facilities, including schools, gyms and homes.
Masks must still be worn outdoors, when around others who do not share a household and social distancing cannot be maintained.
The Department of Health addressed sports in its Frequently Asked Questions portion of its website:
Does the Order apply to athletes and sports activities?
Yes. Everyone who participates in sport activities including coaches, athletes (including cheerleaders), and spectators must wear a face covering, such as a mask, unless they fall under an exception in Section 3 of the Order.
Indoors: Coaches, athletes (including cheerleaders), and spectators must wear face coverings, when indoors and where another person or persons who are not members of the individual’s household are present in the same space, irrespective of physical distance. This includes while actively engaged in workouts, competition, and on the sidelines, etc.
Outdoors: Coaches, athletes (including cheerleaders), and spectators must wear face coverings if they cannot maintain sustained physical distance from persons outside of their household. This includes while actively engaged in workouts, competition, and on the sidelines, in the dugout, etc. If sustained six-foot distancing can be maintained, face coverings may be removed when outdoors.
Other news from the PIAA meeting that was COVID-19 related:
- The PIAA voted to allow the hosting of virtual meets in the sports of swimming and diving, competitive cheer, girls gymnastics and bowling.
- The PIAA voted down a rule change that would have required at least three days of practice before competition if a team’s practice schedule was interrupted for four or more days by a temporary school closure.
- The PIAA accepted the recommendation of the wrestling committee that tournaments allow only eight per weight class.
- Wrestling tournaments will be limited to single-day events.
- The PIAA voted unanimously to recommend the current limitation on multiple school (dual) events from two to four during for the 2020-21 season only.
- No press allowed inside the team boxes (10 to 10) for the PIAA football championships.
- The PIAA voted to eliminate relays, add the 200 meter dash and adopt the General Considerations for Indoor Track and Field.
