School sport clubs are among activities the state is discouraging in the fight against COVID-19
By Lily Altavena | Arizona Republic
Schools superintendent Kathy Hoffman, state health department director Dr. Cara Christ and multiple Arizona district superintendents pleaded with people to limit gatherings outside of school as the number of COVID-19 cases climb.
Related: University of Arizona to require COVID-19 testing for all in-person classes this spring
Controlling cases is key to continuing in-person learning, they said.
“The more we ignore this virus, the less stability we provide our students and families,” Hoffman said.
The pleas to families to scale back sleepovers, club sports and parties were juxtaposed with devastating statistics about the impact of the pandemic on student mental health.
Christ, who leads the Arizona Department of Health Services, said 43 children under age 17 have died by suicide so far in 2020, compared with 38 in 2019. Schools are central in recognizing mental health crises in students and offer services to help.
