Several St. Joseph High School students test positive for coronavirus in South Bend, just as sports practices begin in Indiana

SOUTH BEND — Several student-athletes at St. Joseph High School in South Bend had tested positive for COVID-19 as of Friday, just as summer practices initially began, according to an email the school sent to parents.

In the email sent late Friday afternoon, St. Joseph Principal John Kennedy and Director of Athletics Debbie Brown announced that three of the seven students had participated in summer practices that began on July 6.

Kennedy declined an interview and Brown also did not immediately return a call from The Tribune.

A statement from school spokeswoman Bethany Burgun said St. Joseph is “committed to protecting the health and safety of all student athletes, managers, coaches, trainers, and staff.” It also detailed safety procedures that the school has for sports, based on recommendations from health officials, including requiring students to complete self-screenings at home before practice, to wear masks to and from practice and to stay in designated groups for practices. Also, equipment is not shared among groups until it has been disinfected, according to the statement.

Burgun also told The Tribune in an email that it is “too early to tell how the coronavirus may impact high school athletics this fall. We will continue to work closely with the St. Joseph County Health Department, the IDOE, the IHSAA and other entities to monitor the situation.”