In a troubling turn of events, just a day after securing their first state football championship, the entire football program at A.C. Flora High School has been placed under quarantine due to a coach testing positive for COVID-19. The South Carolina school district announced on Monday that approximately 80 players and coaching staff members are now isolating for two weeks following the positive test, which was confirmed on Sunday.
This diagnosis came shortly after the Falcons celebrated their 4A championship win, with photos emerging of students, coaches, and players gathered closely together without masks. This marks Richland 1’s first football title since 1970, a notable achievement overshadowed by the ongoing pandemic that has claimed the lives of over 284,000 Americans. South Carolina has nearly 235,000 COVID-19 cases, with a positivity rate nearing 9%, according to Johns Hopkins University.
Witnesses reported players mingling with the enthusiastic crowd, and students rushed onto the field to celebrate the victory. That same evening, A.C. Flora’s athletic director, Sam Thompson, informed the team of the coach’s positive test result. The individual reportedly showed no symptoms.
“We are mandating that all members of the football program quarantine while we conduct thorough contact tracing,” Thompson stated in an email shared on the team’s Twitter page. “Once we complete this process, we will identify who needs to continue quarantining and who can return to normal activities.”
Initially, the school year started with all-virtual learning but transitioned to a hybrid model in October, allowing students to attend classes in-person on alternating days. There is currently no statewide mask mandate in South Carolina and no restrictions on public businesses such as restaurants and gyms.
Additionally, North Myrtle Beach High School, the team they competed against, is considering contact tracing to assess whether their players need to quarantine as well. As COVID-19 spreads rapidly across the U.S., incidents like this raise serious concerns about public health. The country recently recorded a high number of daily deaths, and further spikes are anticipated following the Thanksgiving holiday.
Until public health guidelines are universally adhered to, we can expect rising numbers of cases and fatalities, ongoing disruptions to education, and the future of youth sports remaining uncertain. Amidst all this, the importance placed on football seems to overshadow pressing health concerns.
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In summary, A.C. Flora High School’s football program is in quarantine after a coach tested positive for COVID-19, just after their historic championship victory. This event serves as a poignant reminder of the ongoing pandemic’s impact and highlights the need for adherence to health guidelines.