Ohio Governor Mike DeWine said he’ll announce new guidance regarding sports in the state next week.
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine doesn’t have new guidance regarding sports in the state just yet. But it’s on its way.
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At his press briefing on Friday, DeWine said that will announce new protocols regarding professional, high school and junior high sports next week. While DeWine acknowledged there are currently concerns about the viability of a fall sports season at the high school and youth levels, he also said that administrators are doing everything they can to make a season safely happen.
DeWine’s announcement comes one week after the Ohio High School Athletic Association reaffirmed its plans to move forward with a fall sports season. The following day, the Ohio Health Department extended an order pertaining to the procedures for contact sports, which included a requirement for all athletes and coaches to undergo coronavirus (COVID-19) testing prior to competition.
Discussing that order at Tuesday’s press briefing, Ohio Lt. Governor Jon Husted said that the order currently in place wasn’t the one the state intended to use for the start of the fall sports season.
“There has been some confusion about this in that the renewal of the order somehow represents the plan for return to play this fall. I want you to know that’s not the case,” Husted said. “We are still working with the Ohio High School Athletic Association to finalize that plan and we are still considering many options.
“We’re trying to keep those options open. Because we want student-athletes to return to play. We’re trying to accommodate both the health and the practical considerations that must go into any decision for the athletes, coaches and fans.”
Husted also revealed that the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals had submitted proposals to host fans at their home games this season. Under the state’s current order, spectators aren’t permitted to attend competitions for contact sports.