Westwood HS reschedules football games after COVID-19 exposure

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - Westwood High School has announced it will be rescheduling two varsity and two junior varsity football games against Dreher High School and Irmo High School.

On October 5, 12 student-athletes were placed on quarantine for 14 days after the school was notified that an athlete from the opposing team at an October 3 football game tested positive for COVID-19.

Westwood High coaches watched video from the game and identified the 12 players considered to be close contacts, or within six feet, of the individual for a combined total of at least 15 minutes.

The remainder of the Westwood High varsity football team has been informed that while they are not considered to be close contacts they should monitor for symptoms.

The football games against Dreher High School have been moved to October 29 for the junior varsity game and October 30 for the varsity game.

The games against Irmo High School have been moved to November 5 for junior varsity and November 6 for varsity.

Players on the junior varsity team were not impacted by the quarantine but the schools decided to keep the junior varsity and varsity games on the same week.

“The health and well-being of our staff and students remains our highest priority, and we are continuing to adjust and improve our protocols to make our learning experiences the safest possible,” Westwood High Principal Robert Jackson said.