TriCounty Health Department and the Utah High School Activities Association (UHSAA) have approved a plan proposed by the Uintah School District and Uintah High School that may allow the Utes football team to play in the opening round of the state playoffs.
The football team and its coaches are currently in quarantine due to an exposure to an individual who later tested positive for COVID-19. The quarantine period overlaps with the opening round of the state football playoffs, which start Oct. 23.
Superintendent Rick Woodford sought approval from TriCounty Health and UHSAA to allow the team to play on the following conditions:
1. Coaches and players would be tested for COVID-19 on Tuesday, Oct. 20, using rapid tests provided to the school district by TriCounty Health. Parental consent is required before any player is tested. The tests would be administered for free.
2. Coaches and players would be tested again for COVID-19 on Thursday, Oct. 22, using rapid tests provided to the school district by TriCounty Health. Again, parental consent is required before any player is tested and the tests would be administered for free.
Three confirmed cases of COVID-19 in a 14-day period in a classroom or team constitutes an outbreak, per public health protocols. Tuesday's testing will determine whether the team can resume practice. Thursday's testing will determine whether they can play Friday's playoff game. If testing shows an outbreak has occurred, the football team cannot practice or play.
Again, testing is optional; however, under the plan at least 90 percent of the team must be tested to be cleared to practice and play.
Decisions about which players would continue to quarantine and which players would be cleared to practice or play will be determined following testing. Depending on the test results, TriCounty Health and Uintah High School would collaborate to conduct contact tracing if needed.
As designed, the plan would put the football team into a cohort for the purpose practicing and playing only. Student-athletes cannot return to in-person learning at Uintah High until the quarantine period ordered by TriCounty Health earlier this week expires.
TriCounty Health and UHSAA notified Superintendent Woodford this morning that the plan had been approved. Utes head coach Justin DeCol has notified the team of the approval of the plan.