Covid shuts down North Hills boys varsity basketball for 2 weeks, district using remote learning only

The North Hills School District has eight new cases of covid-19, including one that forced a shutdown of the boys varsity basketball program for a two-week period that began on Dec. 5, officials announced.

The basketball players began experiencing symptoms on Friday afternoon after practice and tested positive for the virus on Dec. 5.

All team members have been notified about the case and received instructions about how to respond based on guidance from the Allegheny County Health Department.

The first game for the boys basketball team — a scrimmage that was scheduled for Dec. 5 – also was canceled.

The boys and girls teams are the only varsity basketball players currently practicing. Masks are required at all times during practices and were in use on Friday when the player who tested positive was at the session.

In addition to the basketball player, seven other people either tested positive for covid-19 or are presumed positive for the virus.

Three are students at Highcliff Elementary, two are students at the middle school, one is a student at the high school and the other is a high school teacher, according to a covid tracker created by the district.

The eight new cases bring the district’s current active total to 15 — nine students and six staff. There have been 69 active cases since the pandemic began.

District officials also announced changes to when cases are added to the tracker based on guidance from the state.

Cases will now be added when covid symptoms begin instead of when the district was notified or a positive test result is received.

If a student or staff member is asymptomatic, the case will be added to the tracker on the date they are tested for coronavirus, district officials said.

Because of the surge in covid cases in Allegheny County, students in the North Hills School District will continue with online-only instruction until Jan. 11, when the switch back to a blend of in-person and online instruction is scheduled to take place.

“This decision to remain virtual was difficult and not one that was made lightly,” district officials wrote in a letter to families. “There are no right answers or easy decisions. We are just trying to do what’s best to keep our students and staff safe as cases continue to climb.”