POMEROY––A Pomeroy volleyball player has tested positive for covid and the Saturday October 9 volleyball match against Tekoa-Rosalia has been canceled, according to Toddette McGreevy, Athletic Director.

School officials sought guidance from the Garfield County Public Health Department on Friday and, according to the Health District's Martha Lanman, those players who are fully vaccinated may return to school and practice on Monday, Oct. 11, masking and watching carefully for symptoms.

Those who are NOT fully vaccinated can test in five days (Monday, Oct. 11), the Health Department indicated. If individuals have a negative test result and no symptoms, those individuals may return to school on Thursday, Oct. 14.

Student-athletes may choose to test at the Clinic, Hospital, or at 7:30 a.m. in the High School Library, McGreevy reported. "If you choose to test at the School, you must socially distance (6') as well masking, controlling contact with others.

"Please watch for symptoms," McGreevy said. "The Garfield County Health District wanted me to remind you to stay away from each other, don't hang out this weekend, and watch for – and be honest about – symptoms."

When the School District received word that a member of the volleyball program had tested positive, all Pomeroy High School volleyball players, JV and Varsity, were sent home for the afternoon of October 8.

In addition to canceling the Saturday match, the Oakesdale team was notified. Athletic directors agreed that risk of exposure was extremely low since both teams followed covid protocols.

The Garfield County Health District will take the lead on contact tracing, and they will contact those individuals identified as being in "close-contact."

Pomeroy High School's Homecoming Week, which was scheduled for next week, has been moved to the last week in October, October 24-30.

McGreevy urged anyone with questions to contact her or Superintendent Gwinn. "The most important factors in our decisions are the health and safety of our students, all students," McGreevy said. "We will know more soon and will update as necessary. Please be safe, sanitize, mask-up, and take care of yourself."