Columbus-area high schools report positive COVID-19 cases to GHSA
Local school districts have reported fewer than 10 positive COVID-19 cases to the GHSA since the governing body began allowing workouts in early June.
The school systems of Muscogee County (three cases), Troup County (none), Marion County (one) and Chattahoochee County (none), along with one private school, released to the Ledger-Enquirer reported numbers in which a student-athlete or coach tested positive for the virus and was reported as a positive case to the GHSA.
In Muscogee County, three athletes have tested positive. According to district Athletic Director Jeff Battles, the cases were not tied to the beginning of sports workouts but were traced back to “non-MCSD activities.”
Brookstone AD Jimmy Messer declined to provide the number of cases to the Ledger-Enquirer, citing school policy. Pacelli has reported positive cases to the GHSA, according to Vikings Athletic Director Corry Black, but he declined to state the amount.
Troup County, which includes Troup, LaGrange and Callaway high schools, has reported no positive cases since the GHSA began asking schools to do so on June 25. Chattahoochee County has also reported no positive cases.
“Our coaches have strictly enforced the preventative measures and have been diligent on the tracking requirements,” Chattahoochee County Superintendent Kristie Brooks said in an email. “We are very appreciative that our athletes and families continue to support our procedures which have contributed to the success of summer work-outs and practice.”
Marion County reported one positive case — a football coach — in June. It has not reported a positive case since then.
Georgia high schools have reported 655 positive COVID-19 tests, among athletes and coaches, since June 8, according to the AJC. Six football programs have canceled workouts, none near the Ledger-Enquirer’s coverage area.
The GHSA plans to have a full 10-game regular season and a full five-week playoff schedule. Only games are delayed; mandatory practices begin July 27, moving to workouts in full pads Aug. 1.
The governing body already has postponed the start of the 2020 high school football season to early September, two weeks later than originally planned.
