As new cases of coronavirus continue to be reported in Washington State, the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association has announced that high school basketball tournaments will continue this week with no schedule changes.
“AMIA staff are in contact with the Washington State Department of Health and will continue to receive advice regarding our upcoming events,” the association said in a press release on Monday morning.
The WIAA said it was working with staff at the Spokane Arena, the Yakima SunDome and the Tacoma Dome to disinfect “high contact areas with an EPA approved disinfectant”.
Since Monday morning, more than 89,000 people worldwide have been infected with the virus named COVID-19 by the World Health Organization and more than 3,000 have died, according to the Associated Press. The vast majority of deaths have occurred in mainland China.
There are 80 cases in the United States, according to the AP. The Seattle Times reported that 17 confirmed cases and five deaths were linked to the virus in Washington. Washington Governor Jay Inslee declared a state of emergency on Saturday to give public agencies access to additional resources.
Three other deaths were announced Monday morning at a Washington state nursing home after the WIAA released its statement.
The WIAA moved four regional basketball games from Jackson High School on Saturday after a student tested positive for the virus, and the school announced that it would close for cleaning on Monday. Several schools in the Seattle area are closing their precautionary measures for students with flu-like symptoms, including Hazen High School in Renton.
Kingston high school also closed on Monday to disinfect the school, the Kitsap Sun reported, while a student is tested for the virus.
The Colville school district announced Sunday that it will close all schools on Monday while it awaits the results of someone under investigation for the virus.
As an additional preventative measure, the Washington State Department of Health has encouraged participants in large events to spread when possible.
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