As winter sporting activities resume in the midst of COVID-19, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) issued guidance to ensure the safety of students, coaches and fans. The changes include requiring masks and do allow for facilities to reopen and spectators.
Masks
MDH requires that all persons in youth and adult sports wear a mask or face covering at all times, including practices, games or competitions, with only the following exceptions:
- Wrestling: During wrestling contact with another individual, a mask or face covering may become a choking or visual hazard and it may be removed. However, student athletes must wear a mask or face covering at all other times.
- Gymnastics and Cheerleading – During activities such as tumbling, stunting, flying, or using a certain apparatus where a mask or face covering may become a choking or visual hazard, or could get caught on other participants or objects, the mask or face covering may be removed. However, student athletes must wear a mask or face covering at all other times.
- Swimming and Diving: During swimming and diving activities when the student athlete is in the pool or on the diving board the mask or face covering may be removed. However, student athletes must wear a mask or face covering at all other times.
Youth and adult organized sports could resume practice as of Jan. 4 and games can begin as early as Jan. 14 with spectators, following the appropriate capacity limits for indoor or outdoor venues. Inter-region tournaments and out of state play are discouraged.
Facilities & Spectators
The following changes take effect Jan. 11:
- Gym capacity remains capped at 25 percent, but maximum capacity increases to 150 percent. Classes can increase to 25 people, assuming distancing can be observed.
- Spectators should be 12 feet or more away for players not to count as part of the 150. Districts need to keep information about spectators for contract tracing purposes. Concessions need to stop by 10:00. Face coverings are required.
- Pools could open on Jan. 4 for some activity and may now may open at 25 percent capacity, like gyms.
- Outdoor events and entertainment continue at 25 percent capacity, but maximum capacity increases to 250 people. Social distancing is required.
