Aug 25, 2020

Positive tests lead to canceled FB practices, quarantined soccer team in Ellis

Posted Aug 25, 2020 8:48 PM

ELLIS – Ellis USD 388 announced on its website Tuesday that a coach and a student-athlete have tested positive for coronavirus. 

The junior high football coach who tested positive was last at practice on Friday and will remain so until cleared by medical staff. Tuesday and Wednesday practices for the Ellis Junior High football team have been canceled.

"Usd 388 will be working with Ellis County Health to contact trace individuals considers close contacts," Superintendent Corey Burton said in the announcement.

In addition, a soccer player, last at practice on Friday, also tested positive. With practices for the soccer team occurring at Thomas More Prep-Marian facilities, all Ellis soccer players and the coach have been determined to be close contacts and will quarantine for 14 days.

Read the entire message to the district below:

We have learned today that one of our junior high school football coaches has tested positive for Coronavirus.  The coach was last at practice on Friday, August 21st and will be out of practice until cleared by medical staff.  The Ellis Junior High Football team will NOT practice on Tuesday, August 25th and Wednesday, August 26th.  Junior high football pictures will be rescheduled.  USD 388 will be working with Ellis County Health to contact trace individuals considered close contacts. 

We have also learned that one of our soccer players has tested positive for Coronavirus.  This student was last at practice on Friday, August 21st.  This player has been isolated and will not return to play until cleared.  Due to our transportation of Ellis players to TMP for practice each day, all Ellis players and coach were determined to be a close contact to this positive case.  All other Ellis players and coach will be quarantined for 14 days. 

We are alerting you to this development because we believe that open communication and district health is important.  We are working closely with the Ellis County Health Department (ECHD) to keep our students and staff as safe as possible.

In the meantime, know that USD 388 will continue with our safety and health protocols.  These protocols include masks, sanitizing hands, wiping down equipment and other sanitizing processes. 

In the interim, if you feel you are showing signs and symptoms of Covid-19, we encourage you to seek medical advice and contact the Ellis County Health Department or contact your primary medical provider for more information.  Ellis County Health can be reached at (785) 628-9440. 

We are committed to providing a safe and healthy educational experience and work environment for all of our students, athletes, and employees.  We also endeavor to be a positive service to our community.  It is in the interest of those goals that we provide this information out of an abundance of caution.  

We also want to take this opportunity to remind you that one of our core values as a district is respect for and among our employees and students.  We will treat information regarding the identity of employees/students with suspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19 as confidential to the extent feasible and we will comply with applicable laws regarding the handling of such information.  Further, per district policy, we will not tolerate harassment of, or discrimination or retaliation against, employees and students.

Please contact Corey Burton, Superintendent at (785) 726-4281 if you have any questions or concerns. 

For more information about COVID-19, please visit the CDC website at: http://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html