New Bedford schools pause athletics for remainder of week due to spike in COVID-19 cases

NEW BEDFORD, Mass. (WLNE)- New Bedford Public Schools is pausing all athletic events through Friday, according to a post on the high school’s Twitter page.

The school department cited an increase in positive COVID-19 cases across several different teams.

“In constitution with the New Bedford Department of Health, we have been advised to pause participation in our athletic programming including practices and games for one week,” said Superintendent Thomas Anderson.

Several teams are participating in the test-to-stay program, after an increase in positive cases last weekend, according to Anderson.

The school department will re-evaluate the situation over the upcoming weekend, according to Thomas Tarpey, Director of Physical Education.

Tarpey said that the hope is to have athletics back up and running by Monday.