La Conner schools, Swinomish Tribe renew vigilance against COVID-19

The current COVID-19 surge has local officials modifying game plans to stem spread of the virus.

The La Conner School District has adopted a two-week (Jan. 14-26) pause of spectator attendance at indoor district events, allowing only two family members per student participant or athlete to watch.

The Swinomish Indian Tribal Community, whose public health team confirmed 35 new cases of COVID-19 between Jan. 6-10, is stressing that its members limit social gatherings and always wear masks when indoors with persons outside their households.

“Because of how contagious this (omicron) variant is, upgrading from a cloth mask to a surgical mask, and even doubling up, is recommended,” tribal public health officials said in a notice posted on the Swinomish website Jan. 10. “Omicron is so contagious and prevalent that if you have symptoms of COVID-19, you most likely have COVID-19. If you have symptoms, isolate yourself from others, do not go to work or school. If a member of your household or other significant contact has symptoms, quarantine.”

Omicron spreads at least three times faster than the delta variant, the public health team points out,

“One person infects at least three others on average,” the tribal health notice stated.

Fire District 13 Chief Wood Weiss said Friday that 139 positive COVID-19 cases have been reported across the entire Swinomish Reservation area on Fidalgo Island since Jan. 1.

At La Conner schools, public health officials last week requested a temporary pause in spectator attendance, responding to a countywide spike in COVID-19 cases.

“Live streaming will continue to be available when possible so that our student spectators and families can continue to participate remotely,” officials said in a release posted on the district website.

Other school districts in Skagit County have imposed similar spectator pauses.

The La Conner-Mount Vernon Christian high school basketball games scheduled Jan. 14 in Mount Vernon were immediately impacted by the rising COVID-19 numbers. Those contests are postponed till Jan. 29.

“That should work out better for everyone,” head girls’ basketball coach Scott Novak told the Weekly News Saturday. “It’s such a good rivalry and you want to be able to have fans in the stands.”

Safety mitigation policies such as mask-wearing and social distancing will remain in effect at athletic events, according to the district website.

“The health and safety of our La Conner students and staff continue to be our greatest concern,” the posting stressed. “We are paying close attention to other counties’ COVID rates and mitigation measures in deciding if our teams will travel and compete.”

The high school girls’ basketball team played Friday night at Eastlake in the Lake Washington School District accompanied only by a handful of coaches and support staff.

And La Conner has postponed its Winter Sports Season Senior Night to Feb. 10 when Coupeville visits Landy James Gym.