Santa Teresa High School volleyball team quarantined after coach tests positive for COVID-19

SANTA TERESA - A coach at Santa Teresa High School tested positive for COVID-19 Tuesday, and 26 students in the school's volleyball program who had contact the coach are required to quarantine, the Gadsden Independent School District announced. 

The coach, who was not identified by name, reported feeling unwell Monday, which had been the first day of practice for the team. The coach submitted to a COVID-19 test at a hospital and learned of the positive result Tuesday. 

The district's nursing department immediately began contact tracing to identify students and staff members who came into contact with the coach. Parents of the student athletes who attended practice Monday were all contacted, the district said, to inform them the students must quarantine for 14 days. 

Under district protocol, employees who test positive for COVID-19 must quarantined for 14 days and present a negative test before returning to their job assignment. 

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On Friday, modified public health orders went into effect in New Mexico permitting youth sports activity for practice and skills development for up to 10 participants in a group, but contact sports are still not allowed.

According to the district, the volleyball players were organized into "pods" consisting of nine students to one coach. The students were reportedly required to wear masks and practice social distancing. 

Gadsden district schools remain closed with students continuing school through online instruction and remote learning. However, some teachers opt to teach from their classrooms and other staff access school sites as well. The schools are closed to students at least until Oct. 19, per vote of the district's school board, which follows fall break. 

The coach is at least the eighth employee of the school district to contract COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. 

The seventh employee to test positive, who is assigned to Desert View Elementary School in Sunland Park, was announced earlier in September. 

Algernon D'Ammassa can be reached at 575-541-5451, adammassa@lcsun-news.com or @AlgernonWrites on Twitter.