8 Derby football players in COVID-19 quarantine after pair of cases; game not canceled
Four days after playing at Bishop Carroll, the Derby High School football team entered quarantine after two positive COVID-19 tests. A day later, only eight varsity players remain in isolation after contact tracing, coach Brandon Clark told The Eagle.
Bishop Carroll coach Dusty Trail told The Eagle that his team will not go into quarantine. The two players who tested positive did not participate or travel to the game Friday, Trail said.
Derby is set to play its first home game of the 2020 season in Week 4 Friday night after going undefeated for a second straight year in 2019. The Derby school district released a statement which stated the game has not officially been canceled.
“The Health Department is working with one of the students who tested positive to determine who close contacts are or if the entire team has to remain in quarantine,” according to the statement.
The release stated health and safety of the students and staff is the district’s priority. According to COVID-19 guidelines set forth by the Kansas State High School Activities Association (KSHSAA), Derby is within the parameters to continue on with its game Friday if specifications are met.
“Anyone who tests positive for COVID-19 must be isolated until they meet the criteria for release set by the KDHE or the local health department,” according to KSHSAA. “They must also obtain written clearance by amedical provider before returning to participation.
“Any individual who has had close contact exposure (defined by the KDHE as less than 6 feet of physical distance for 10 minutes or longer, or if there was exposure to respiratory secretions such as being coughed or sneezed on) with a person who has tested positive for COVID-19 should immediately self-quarantine and contact their primary care physician or local public health officials for guidance.”
Derby becomes the second team in the Wichita area to see positive coronavirus tests during the season and lose games because of it.
Andover Central was the first after one positive test prompted cancellation of its Week 2 game at Buhler.
This story was originally published September 21, 2020 at 1:35 PM.