Kittitas County, in coordination with local municipalities and local youth sports organizations, will move forward with youth sports this fall. The local Kittitas County Health Order has been updated to allow for youth sports under the Washington State Phased Plan Guidance. Recently, youth sports were suspended as the incident rate in Kittitas County climbed above 75 cases per 100,000 for two weeks.
“Local youth sports organizations worked hard before and continue to work hard to provide for youth recreation while doing so in a safe manner in response to COVID-19,” states Health Officer Dr. Mark Larson. One example of an organization working to provide youth sports in response to COVID-19 is the Kittitas Valley Junior Soccer Association (KVJSA). KVJSA has submitted their safety plan and their plan is enough to mitigate the harm of COVID-19 at this time, operating under Phase 3 Guidance.
Phase 3 Guidance for sports is specific to outdoor youth sports activities only. The guidance allows for teams to resume playing game. Total gatherings at any one game cannot exceed 50 individuals. For sporting complexes with multiple fields, the individual limit is counted on a per-field and not a per-complex basis.
Please continue to use physical distancing, face coverings, and frequent handwashing. Spending time outdoors is better than time indoors when around others. Please stay home if you are sick. Please check in with your coworkers, relatives, neighbors, and friends through this pandemic to ensure mental wellbeing.
If you have questions about your health, please contact your healthcare provider or you can call the Temporary COVID Clinic at KVH at 509-933-8850. If you are having a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the Emergency Department at KVH. If you have general questions about COVID-19, please call the EOC at 509-933-8315 or 509-933-8305.
