KIF issues reminder to follow the COVID rules

LIHU‘E — Coming on the heels of a Monday announcement by the O‘ahu Interscholastic Association banning spectators from future sporting events, the Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation announced a reminder Tuesday for spectators to KIF sporting events during this time when daily COVID-19 case counts are in triple digits.

“We are all trying very hard to have a successful 2022 KIF sports season,” said Erik Burkman, the KIF board secretary and executive secretary. “As we return to KIF high-school sports, remember that all attendees need to wear a mask during all KIF competitions, both indoors and outdoors.”

The announcement continues that spectators who have COVID symptoms should not attend events.

“Spectators are to sit in their ‘ohana group, and only lower the face mask when eating or drinking,” the KIF reminder states. “Following these simple protocols will help our student athletes have the season they worked so hard for.”

Outdoor seating for boys and girls soccer, the first scheduled games taking place today, will be open to the public. Indoor seating for boys and girls basketball, the girls program taking place now, will be limited.

In a Star-Advertiser story Monday, the OIA announced that due to the rising number of COVID-19 cases on O‘ahu, spectators will not be allowed at any upcoming sporting events until further notice, and refunds will be offered for tickets already purchased.

This reverses a previous announcement where only fully vaccinated fans were allowed to attend OIA sporting events starting in mid-October, the first time fans were allowed since the onset of the pandemic in early 2020.

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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.