STATEMENT FROM PIAA ON NEW ORDER FOR FACEMASKS,

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Billy Splain | July 3, 2020

PRESS RELEASE – Mechanicsburg, PA – Friday, July 3, 2020

This afternoon the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) and the Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) authored some FAQ’s for the recent wearing a face covering (mask) order signed by Secretary of Health, Dr. Rachel Levine on Wednesday, July 1, 2020. This action has created a number of questions for schools and their out of season voluntary workout programs.

PIAA Executive Director, Dr. Robert A. Lombardi stated, “We are tremendously appreciative of the Department of Health and the Department of Education for providing guidance and answers to the many frequently asked questions. This information will greatly assist PIAA member schools, their administration and staffs with the information needed to continue their voluntary, summer workout programs”.

The most requested questions recently are the following:

Does the Order apply to athletes and sports activities?

Yes. Everyone must wear a face covering, such as a mask, unless they fall under an exception listed in Section 3 of the Order.  Coaches, athletes and spectators must wear face coverings unless they are outdoors and can consistently maintain social distancing of at least 6 feet. Athletes are not required to wear face coverings while actively engaged in workouts and competition that prevent the wearing of face coverings, but must wear face coverings when on the sidelines, in the dugout, etc. and anytime 6 feet of social distancing is not possible.

Do schools need to update/amend their Health and Safety Plans if they have already been submitted to PDE?

Health and Safety Plans must reflect this Order. Understanding the volatility and uncertainty of the COVID-19 virus, plans should be flexible enough to contemplate any future change in conditions.

Do updated/revised Health and Safety Plans need to be re-approved by local school boards?

Yes. While the Order must be implemented immediately, plan approval, if necessary, should occur at the next board meeting.

For more information from the Department of Health on face coverings (masks) use the following link:

https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/disease/coronavirus/Pages/Guidance/Universal-Masking-FAQ.aspx

About Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association

Beginning in Pittsburgh, on December 29, 1913, PIAA was given the privilege of serving its member schools and registered officials by establishing policies and adopting contest rules that emphasize the educational values of interscholastic athletics, promote safe and sportsmanlike competition and provide uniform standards for all interscholastic levels of competition.

ANOTHER IMPORTANT SECTION PERTAINING TO WEATHER:

Is it acceptable to remove face coverings when high temperatures and humidity may create unsafe conditions, or simply if the weather is very warm?

Individuals must wear face coverings unless wearing a face covering would create an unsafe condition in which to operate equipment or execute a task.   In general, though, face coverings must be worn, even on warm days, if they do not pose a risk to an individual’s health or safety. Mere discomfort is not considered a risk to an individual’s health or safety.

Face shields are an acceptable alternative to face masks when high temperatures and humidity create unsafe conditions.

Our take is this: Workouts SHOULD be able to continue with no changes.  If you prepared properly, your plan should have had contingencies for moving backwards.  However, the biggest takeaway for us is the statements about safety and heat.  These are very important additions and help alleviate some questions. Bottom line, nothing really should have changed for your schools plan.

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