Tougher rules are in place in San Francisco that will prevent the return of high-school football and other high- and moderate-contact sports in the county as allowed under a new set of state guidelines released last week.
A spokesperson for the San Francisco Department of Public Health confirmed only purple-tier sports are allowed in the county but said that it was continuing to evaluate its policy regarding youth sports.
“This is an area where San Francisco’s health order is currently more restrictive than the state’s,” SFDPH said in a statement provided to this news organization. “We’re reviewing this new approach by the state to see what changes, if any, are warranted in our local order. At the moment, the only youth sports allowed in San Francisco are those approved in the purple tier.”
On Friday, the California Department of Public Health released revised guidelines that permitted all outdoor sports in counties with adjusted case rates below 14 per 100,000 residents, a threshold San Francisco currently meets. The new order takes effect Friday, Feb. 26, allowing new access to practice and competition in sports such as football, baseball, softball, soccer, lacrosse, rugby and water polo.
Santa Clara County, which along with San Francisco has imposed some of the toughest coronavirus restrictions in the country, did not initially commit to following the relaxed state guidelines. On Monday, however, Dr. Sara Cody, the county’s health officer, said it would issue new orders to align itself with the state.
This is a breaking news story. Check back for updates.
