Someone In Middletown South Football Program Positive For COVID

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — Someone associated with the Middletown High School South football program has been confirmed as diagnosed with COVID, according to a letter sent out Sunday from Middletown schools assistant superintendent Patrick Rinella.

He did not say whether it was a coach, but it does not appear to be a student football player.

Additionally, someone at Middletown High School North tested positive, he said.

Both cases originated outside of school grounds.

Contact tracing was done and everyone they were in contact with has been notified. Surfaces are also being cleaned, said the school.

Both people are currently quarantining. Middletown North and South football practice will take place as normally scheduled this week, according to Jacqueline Tobacco, the parent of a Middletown South football player.

Tobacco, who is also running for a seat on the Middletown Board of Education this fall, said she supported the school's decision to keep practicing this week.

"I, along with many other parents of football players, support Coach (Steve) Antonucci, for diligently following the NJSIAA guidelines from the first day of practice," she said in a statement to Patch Sunday night. "We trust that all precautions are taken and that whoever the associated individual is that had a positive test result is taking care of themselves and that the relevant people were notified."

"I think we all need to realize that the virus is not where it was in March and April, and that positive test case numbers are not hospitalizations," she added. "All of us that are letting their kids participate in athletics are of the belief that the benefits to our children from sports and school outweigh the risk of a virus with a 99.6% survival rate. We cannot as a society continue to shut down when someone has a positive test result. We flattened the curve months ago, now it’s time to flatten the fear and let life continue."

“The benefits outweigh the risks," agreed Marissa Capone, the mom of a Middletown South football player. "I’m very comfortable with my son going to practice, games and being with coaches and the team. We cannot keep shutting down everything because of one positive case."

Like school districts across the nation, Middletown has had to grapple with outbreaks of what — for some — is a very deadly virus: On Friday, Sept. 18, people at Nut Swamp Elementary in Middletown tested positive after they attended an event outside of school.

Nut Swamp was closed for one day, that Friday, Sept. 18, but reopened the following Monday. No students were affected. There was also an outbreak among youth ice hockey players who practice indoors at the Middletown ice rink. The ice rink where they practiced, rink two, was temporarily closed.

Related: Update On COVID Case At Middletown Elementary School (Sept. 18)

Cluster Of COVID Cases In Teams At Middletown Sports Complex (Sept. 14)

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