FOOTBALL

Bristol-Plymouth temporarily suspends football over COVID positives

Cameron Merritt
The Taunton Daily Gazette

TAUNTON — The Bristol-Plymouth Regional Technical School has temporarily suspended team activities for its varsity and junior varsity football teams through Monday due to a rise in the number of students testing positive for COVID-19, according to a press release sent out by Superintendent Alexandre Magalhaes Wednesday.

Both the varsity and junior varsity teams have had a number of student-athletes test positive for the virus, and the school — along with both the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and the City of Taunton Board of Health — decided it was best to shut down the football program through Monday unless further COVID positive tests are reported, the press release states.

The Bristol-Plymouth football team, seen here in action last spring against Upper Cape, is suspending activities until at least Monday due to a rise in the number of students testing positive for COVID-19.

"We appreciate the continued patience and cooperation from our entire school community, including students, their families and school staff,” Magalhaes said. "We would also like to thank the City of Taunton and the Board of Health for their ongoing guidance and assistance as we continue to navigate the pandemic and keep our students safe."

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All students who were close contacts of the players have been contacted by the school nurse and provided with close contact protocols, according to Magalhaes, and families are encouraged to visit the Bristol-Plymouth website to see the school's COVID-19 protocols and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education guidelines in place.

The Craftsmen varsity team was scheduled to play against Diman Regional Vocational Technical High School on Thursday night; that game has been postponed to Oct. 29. This comes after their game last Friday against Martha's Vineyard Regional High School was also postponed, with a make-up date of Nov. 5. 

Varsity head coach John Parris said the team has been meeting virtually and that the players affected are in good spirits. He fully expects the team to be able to return to practice Monday and to be ready for their next scheduled football game against Cape Cod Technical High School on Oct. 1.