If one needed evidence that the COVID-19 pandemic is still very much a problem, they need not look any further than Monday’s decision by the Greater Boston League to temporarily suspend all athletic activities and events for one week.
The league announced that, effective immediately, the eight member schools of the GBL — Lynn Classical, Lynn English, Revere, Chelsea, Everett, Medford, Malden, and Somerville — will not hold practices or games at any level for the week of Jan. 3.
“Due to the current spike in COVID cases, and with the safety of our student-athletes in mind, the Greater Boston League has unanimously agreed to put a temporary halt on all athletic events,” the league statement read. “Effective immediately, there will be no athletic competitions or practices for the remainder of the week of Jan. 3. Practices can resume on Saturday, Jan. 8, with competitions resuming on Tuesday, Jan. 11.
“It is the hope of league officials that this stoppage will allow our member schools to focus on policies and procedures for all student-athletes and coaches, to ensure that we can continue to provide the safest possible environment for competitors,” the statement continued. “Each district will create their own policy specific to spectators at competitions. The visiting team will adhere to the host team’s spectator policy.”