With Minnesota seeing a "reprieve" in COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and ICU load, youth sports are opening up starting Wednesday.
Wednesday, June 24 is the official start for outdoor youth sports; July 1 for indoor.
"We know that people are antsy to get going," Minnesota Department of Health Infectious Disease Director Kris Ehresmann told Mike Max on Sports to the Max Friday, "but you don't have to start in June 24. You can, but we still encourage a phased-in approach."
She says parents who are concerned or have children with underlying health conditions can sit out. She's also urging organizers to look at the state's data dashboard before deciding to travel to another region in case a county is seeing an uptick in cases.
More than 2,400 of Minnesota's total cases have been under age 19, with some hospitalizations and even intensive care so Ehresmann said the virus cannot be minimized with kids.
"Obviously you need to play the game but for instance baseball when you're on the bench we want people to be socially distanced," Ehresmann said. "We want the coaches to be wearing masks. Obviously for the athletes that would be difficult to wear a mask, but when they're not in the midst of competition, we want to make sure they're adhering to those things."
Ehresmann adds another incentive for being cautious this summer youth sports season: Among the data points MDH will be evaluating when making decisions about the upcoming fall season alongside community spread, "how well things go" this summer will play a role.Taking precautions now will only help pave he way for a fall season including football, a high-contact sport that might have the most challenges in making a safe return.