Safety Concerns & High School Sports

Sydney Martin was outside Huntsville City Hall after officials discussed the pros and cons of letting high school students play sports.

Today- as high school athletes start practice.

And major league baseball postpones games due to coronavirus.

We asked local leaders if they think it's safe and worth the risk.

Waay 31's sydney martin is live outside city hall after officials discussed the pros and cons of letting high school students play sports..

Huntsville mayor tommy battle and huntsville hospital c-e-o david spillers both told me they know how important sports are to the community..

But spillers said with sports in play there is a risk for an outbreak of cases.

Tommy battle, mayor of huntsville " i think alot of us almost feel sports are essential but they're not."

Huntsville mayor tommy battle told me he's looking to healthcare leaders in the community to help school districts determine if sports are safe..

David spillers, huntsville hospital ceo, ""i think it's very possible you'll see outbreaks of people who get covid in that age group from team sports."

Spillers said monday - there are no school aged children in the hospital in madison county with coronavirus currently, but contact sports could change how many kids get sick by a lack of being able to follow health guidelines..

David spillers, huntsville hospital ceo, ""anybody playing sports is going to be at risk just like any other person who is not socially separating and have on a mask, so i think they're at risk for getting covid."

The hospital's infectious disease expert dr. ali hassoun told us last week, high school sports should not be played during the coronavirus pandemic.

Spillers knows the decision is up to schools and ultimately families.

David spillers, huntsville hospital ceo, ""families who have children who are going to play team sports need to determine if they're willing to accept the risk of somebody getting covid from a team sport."

And while students who attend all three public school districts in madison county will only learn online the first nine weeks..both told me making the decision if sports should be allowed isn't an easy one.

Tommy battle, mayor of huntsville "there will be nothing better than to see team sports happen this fall.

I'll leave it up to our health officials to determine if it should happen or if it should not."

David spillers, huntsville hospital ceo, "telling a senior in high school this year might be as devastating as getting covid and staying at home for two weeks, so i think everyone's has got to look at that risk and determine whether they're willing to accept that or not."

None of the three school districts in madison county have released what their plan is for sports this fall..two of the districts told us it will spend the next few days discussing just that.

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