COVID-19 exposure sidelines junior varsity football team

By Harvey County Now Staff

The Newton School District stated that a significant number of high school students are in quarantine following a positive COVID-19 test of a member of the junior varsity football team.

Coach Chris Jaax informed parents of the development via an email. District Communications Director Samantha Anderson confirmed the situation and that the positive test will result in no JV football game on Monday.

“We can say there are a large number of individuals in quarantine, and some athletic teams have been impacted, but not a whole team,” she said. “We have had five positive cases in our buildings throughout the district since Sept. 3, but it is important that we quarantine individuals to help slow the spread.”

Anderson said that the health department is responsible for contacting those who were in close proximity to COVID-19 cases, and if a student or staff member has been a close contact the Harvey County Health Department will be in touch with them.

The large quarantine comes on the heels of the health department’s announcement that 110 members of the Bethel Campus either have COVID-19 (42) or are under quarantine (68) two days ago.

Bethel’s internal count, updated Friday, lists 48 active cases.

The health department lists 44 active cases in the county and 418 total cases. It’s unclear if all 42 of the Bethel cases are being counted in the tally. On its last release before the jump in Bethel cases on Oct. 5, the health department stated there were 21 active cases.

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