EPISD cancels indoor games vs. districts allowing fans; move comes as 2 YISD athletes get virus
EL PASO, Texas -- The El Paso Independent School District's El Paso High Tigers cancelled their volleyball game against the Ysleta Independent School District's Eastwood Troopers on Tuesday due to fans being allowed in the stands.
EPISD said it has implemented a policy due to the pandemic that prohibits fans from going to their athletic competitions. But YISD is allowing fans into their sporting events.
The clash in policies led EPISD to cancel this volleyball game - and all other indoor athletic competitions against YISD going forward - because of fans being permitted in their gyms.
The development came after sources revealed to ABC-7 that there was a Covid-19 outbreak involving Eastwood and Hanks high school student athletes.
YISD officials confirmed there had been one virus case each at Eastwood and Hanks, both of which involved students, but they declined to discuss what sports the students played.
The district said parents of students, along with staff, who had close contact with the infected students, were notified and "will remain off-campus for up to 14 days."
Meanwhile EPISD officials provided the statement below explaining their decision to cancel indoor sporting events with YISD and any other districts that opt to allow spectators to attend.
"EPISD Administration has made the difficult decision to cancel indoor games until further notice with any districts currently opening its doors to spectators.
All El Paso district athletics directors had collectively agreed to hold off on allowing fans at games in order to mitigate the risk of exposure to Covid-19. This time without outside spectators gives players and staff the opportunity to adjust to new protocols.
As Covid-19 cases have slowly begun to rise again, we will do everything possible to minimize risk to our students and staff. We continuously review our procedures and will work with the other school districts on a timeline for allowing fans into games."
