Q. I’ve heard that outdoor high school athletics are in the process of resuming and that certain high-contact sports require regular testing. Can you tell me more and does the district have to pay for it?
A. Two weeks ago, Governor Gavin Newsom announced updated requirements for high school sports to resume, which means that some sports are now available to be played in many counties based on their tier. While most high school sports do not require testing, it is required for football, water polo, and rugby. These three outdoor high-contact sports can be played in the purple tier when adjusted daily case rates are below 14/100,000, or in the red tier, if COVID-19 tests are provided to players.
In order to provide equity regardless of a family’s ability to pay for the COVID-19 test, the state is providing these tests for free; neither families nor districts have to bear these costs. The cost covered by the state includes: specimen collection kits, laboratory specimen processing, specimen transportation (if using the state’s COVID-19 Courier Network), and test resulting.
Pursuant to the guidance issued by the California Department of Public Health, testing should occur weekly among sport participants and coaches. More information can be found here.