Wolf relaxes restrictions on fans in stands at school sports

HARRISBURG, Pa. - Gov. Tom Wolf's administration is relaxing restrictions on spectators at some fall sporting events, though attendance at high school football and volleyball games might still prove to be impossible because of statewide limits on mass gatherings.

The revised guidance issued Wednesday says that "spectators may attend sporting events," but they count toward the statewide gathering limits of 25 people indoors and 250 people outdoors.

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf (Office of Gov. Tom Wolf)

Spectators must wear masks, unless they’re outside and can consistently maintain physical distancing of at least 6 feet, the Wolf administration said.

Wolf has urged schools to cancel all youth sports until January to help stop the spread of the coronavirus. But the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association, the governing body for Pennsylvania interscholastic sports, voted last month to move forward with the fall season, rejecting the governor’s recommendation.

In other coronavirus-related developments in Pennsylvania on Wednesday:

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STATE HOUSE: LET KIDS REPEAT YEAR

The state House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved a bill to give parents more power to let their children repeat a year of schooling if they feel their child didn’t get the education they needed or missed out on extracurricular activities amid the pandemic.

The bill passed, 197-5. However, it does not include interscholastic athletics.

Currently, schools and parents make a joint decision as to when a student can repeat, the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Jesse Topper, R-Fulton, has said. But Topper said his legislation gives that sole decision-making power to the parents.

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COLLEGE CRACKDOWN

Gettysburg College is quarantining its entire student body because of a spike in COVID-19 infections.

More than 20 students have tested positive since Sunday, the college said, with most of the cases connected to “certain affinity groups or social gatherings.”

All students must remain in their dorm rooms for the remainder of the week, except to pick up food, use the bathroom or get a virus test. All classes will be taught remotely. Students caught breaking quarantine will be “required to leave campus and return home,” the school said.

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RELATED COVERAGE:

PIAA board votes to permit fall sports to resume Monday, Aug. 24

What will the fall bring for youth and high school sports?

Philadelphia Public League suspends athletics until 2021, impacting thousands of athletes

Gov. Wolf sets Jan. 1 as recommended return date for sports in Pennsylvania

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