FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 15, 2021
CONTACT:
communications@snohd.org
At Least 33 Local Cases Linked to Multi-County Wrestling COVID-19 Outbreak
Outbreak is currently impacting 14 Snohomish County schools
SNOHOMISH COUNTY, Wash. – As announced by the Washington State Department of Health (DOH), the Snohomish Health District is currently part of the investigation involving multiple outbreaks of COVID-19 among vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals connected to high school wrestling tournaments. The number of cases linked to the events is estimated to be between 80 and 90 statewide, with at least 33 confirmed here in Snohomish County. As this investigation is ongoing, the total may change.
The impacted wrestling tournaments all happened on December 4, 2021, and include:
- John Birbeck Invitational in Lacey, WA
- Ed Arima Duals in Sumner, WA
- Lady Jags Kickoff Tournament in Puyallup, WA
- Yelm Girls Varsity in Yelm, WA
The Snohomish Health District is also investigating possible cases linked to other recent wrestling tournaments, so that list may grow. The Health District’s Schools Team and epidemiologists are working in collaboration with DOH, local health jurisdiction epidemiologists, and school partners to gather more information about these events and the corresponding COVID-19 cases.
Over the coming days, local schools may be sharing letters with wrestlers, staff, or volunteers of impacted teams with further guidance for next steps. If you have not received instructions, we recommend that anyone who attended these events as a participant, coach, official, support staff or spectator monitor for symptoms and get tested for COVID-19. Further, anyone with symptoms or who tests positive should stay home from work, school, childcare, or social activities.
This is a dynamic situation and evolving investigation. The Health District has created a temporary page at www.snohd.org/wrestling with resources and information. Any relevant updates with be made weekdays on or around 3 p.m.
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