COLUMBUS, Ohio — As some schools across Ohio pause their winter sports during the coronavirus pandemic, Gov. Mike DeWine requested during his Tuesday briefing that schools playing not permit fans.
“For those that have not suspended sports, we would ask you when you conduct winter sports — basketball games, whatever — to do so without fans. This is another opportunity for us to pull back. It allows our student-athletes to continue to play, which as a parent or grandparent is the most important thing.”
DeWine said the state is asking schools to adopt this policy through Jan. 1, 2021, and it will be re-evaluated at that time.
“As one superintendent told me today, the idea of bringing 200 adults into our gym at this point during the pandemic with the spread we’re seeing makes no sense,” DeWine added.
However, the Ohio High School Athletic Association followed by announcing that parents are still permitted to games. The OHSAA reaffirmed last week its intentions to move ahead with winter sports, as scheduled. The girls basketball season began Friday and boys basketball follows this week.
Many Cuyahoga County schools are pausing athletics until mid-December or early January based on last Wednesday’s advisory from the county Board of Health. That led to tip-off events, such as the Great Lakes Classic at Cleveland Heights for basketball, to be postponed.
Ohio reported 8,604 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday.
Contact sports reporter Matt Goul on Twitter (@mgoul) or email (mgoul@cleveland.com).