MAYB youth basketball tournaments may have exposed people to coronavirus in Kansas

Youth basketball tournaments in Kansas may have exposed people to the coronavirus, public health officials say.

The Mid America Youth Basketball league’s tournaments in Wichita and Hays over the weekend have had three attendees test positive for COVID-19, the Ellis County Health Department said Thursday in a news release. The boys and girls games were held Saturday and Sunday at the Wichita Sports Forum and the Hays Recreation Commission.

The three people who tested positive are not residents of Ellis County.

MAYB National Director Greg Raleigh said he has been in contact with the state health department along with all other necessary channels to maintain the safest possible environment. The tournaments will go on as planned, he said.

Click here for the full MAYB summer schedule

“We have their support, and we have done everything we can to mitigate risk,” Raleigh said.

County officials advised attendees that they may have been exposed to the virus and to monitor themselves for symptoms of the disease. Anyone who is determined to be a close contact of a positive case will be notified by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and will be subject to a mandatory quarantine for two weeks from the date of contact.

Teams that featured a positive COVID-19 test have been quarantined, and several others that did or may have come in contact with those teams have elected to self-quarantine, Raleigh said. Many teams have pulled out of the tournament, he said.

Local health officials also advised people to adhere to social distancing and other health precautions. Raleigh said if anyone has fear of the situation, stay home. Refunds will be given if requested, he said.

“Make the individual choice to protect yourself and others around you,” the Ellis County Health Department said in the release.

Another MAYB tournament, the Summer Kickoff, is scheduled for this weekend in Wichita. As of Wednesday, 500 teams were scheduled to compete. Raleigh said there will be no limit on attendance, but if the situation progresses, the tournaments will be canceled before the number of fans in attendance is restricted.

Harsher restrictions have been implemented, he said. Masks are more heavily recommended, and bleachers have been removed.

“We don’t want to be considered a cluster,” Raleigh said.

This story was originally published June 25, 2020 at 6:19 PM.