BELLINGHAM — The Special Olympics in Washington has suspended all activities until March 31 to protect its athletes and to help slow the spread of COVID-19, the organization announced Tuesday.
The organization has stopped all training and practices, competition, league play and district events, as well as any other events that involve its athletes.
“No one who lives in a county where there are known cases should travel to another county or hold any Special Olympics activities,” the organization stated.
“No one who lives in a county with no known cases should travel to an affected county,” Special Olympics Washington added.
So far, confirmed cases have been found in Clark, Grant, Jefferson, King, Kitsap, Kittitas, Pierce and Snohomish counties.
Athletes who live in counties where COVID-19 cases have been confirmed should train at home, and people should let Special Olympics Washington know if they know athletes, coaches, volunteers or family members who test positive, the organization stated.
Special Olympics will revisit the decision to cancel on March 31.
“I know canceling practice is the right thing to do … but my heart breaks for my daughter Emily. Swimming is her favorite sport and Special Olympics is the one activity that really gets her to exercise. And, of course, she will miss seeing all her friends,” said Bellingham resident Carol Ayers, parent of 27-year-old Special Olympics athlete Emily Ayers.
Coronavirus is spread through contact between people within six feet of each other, especially through coughing and sneezing that expels respiratory droplets that land in the mouths or noses of people nearby. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says it’s possible to catch the disease by touching something that has the virus on it, and then touching your own face, “but this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads.”
Symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough and shortness of breath, which may occur two days to two weeks after exposure. The disease is especially dangerous for the elderly and others with weaker immune systems.
More than 116,000 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed worldwide. As of Wednesday evening, 37 people had died in the U.S., while more than 1,200 people had tested positive for the new coronavirus, the Associated Press reported.
