Milton High football team, cheerleaders under quarantine after positive COVID-19 cases

NORTH FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — A local high school is suspending its football practices for the next two weeks after positive COVID-19 tests.

Channel 2′s Mike Petchenik learned the Milton High School varsity football team, coaches and the school’s cheer squad are under quarantine.

The school district confirmed to Petchenik there are five positive student cases that forced this pause to the programs. Football practice will resume Sept. 3 and cheerleading practice will resume Sept. 2.

“Positive trends showing a decline in community spread can be undone with a lack of precaution in social settings and put the return to school and sports at risk. The district is taking every necessary precaution on campus to provide a safe environment. We need the cooperation of student athletes and the community to make sure they are doing the right things to limit exposure off campus,” the district said in a statement.

“All athletic facilities will be cleaned in preparation of their return. We are hopeful for the safe continuation of the fall season as we had previously delayed competition for two weeks for that purpose.”

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It is the second school in north Fulton county to temporarily suspend the season. Cambridge High School suspended its season for two weeks following confirmed COVID-19 positive test on Aug. 18. The team is not scheduled to return to practice until Aug. 29.

Records obtained by Petchenik show 116 students at Milton are in quarantine this week with 75 students at nearby Cambridge. It is unknown how many of those students are on the football and cheerleading rosters.

Fulton County is currently 100% digital learning and previously announced all fall sports competitions will be delayed until the week of Sept. 14.

Softball, volleyball, cross country, cheerleading and football have been affected. Marching band was hit with the same delay. While competitions are delayed, teams and bands are allowed to continue to practice.

Over the weekend, another metro high school also sidelined its entire football team. School officials said 110 student athletes at Newnan High School in Coweta County are under quarantine after exposure to someone with COVID-19.

Entire high school football team sidelined by COVID-19 exposure

Cox Media Group