High Schools Restrict Fans At Games Due To COVID Concerns

The rapid spread of the COVID-19 Omicron variant is prompting some local school districts to change sports participation policies, with some even reverting to the 2020 bans.

In a note released Tuesday, 15 school districts in Section 9 (Orange, Ulster and Sullivan counties, part of Dutchess) are restricting attendance.

The leading schools Middletown, Newburgh Free Academy and Pine Bush do not allow any fans until January 14.

Other school districts only allow family members or parents / guardians and restrict visitors. The goal appears to be to reduce crowds to allow for more social distancing.

Mid-Hudson Athletic League Pine Plains, Red Hook, Rhinebeck, Saugerties and Spackenkill schools have an almost uniform policy of four family members per athlete for “home” crowds and two guests per athlete for crowds. “Visitors”.

All other Section 9 schools have no crowd limit as of Tuesday.

Recent New York state guidelines have required the use of masks for most public places until Jan. 15 with a review at that time.

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Twitter: @KenMcMillanTHR

Presence restrictions

Tag: Visitors, 2 per athlete

Greenwood Lake: No student spectators, families only

Kingston: No swimming spectators; other sports 2 per athlete

Middletown: no spectators until January 14

Monroe-Woodbury: Parents / Guardians Only

Monticello: 4 per athlete

New Paltz: 2 per athlete

Newburgh: no spectators until January 14

Pine Bush: no spectators until January 14

Pine Plains: home crowd, family members only; Crowd of visitors, 2 per athlete

Red Hook: home crowd, 4 family members per athlete; Visitor attendance: 2 per athlete

Rhinebeck: local crowd, 4 family members per athlete; Crowd of visitors, 2 per athlete

Saugerties: home crowd, 4 family members per athlete; Visitor attendance: 2 per athlete

Spackenkill: local crowd, 4 family members per athlete; Visitor attendance: 2 per athlete

Valley Central: 2 per athlete