WOODWARD, Iowa — Fans attending athletic contests hosted by Woodward-Granger will be required to wear face masks as the district works to combat the COVID-19 outbreak.
Several photos showing the W-G student section at Friday’s home football game with Madrid have created a buzz because students were seen standing in a tight group and were cheering without masks.
Face masks and social distancing were recommended but not required at the time.
Going forward, all attendees will be required to have a mask upon entering any volleyball or football event in Woodward. Masks are now required to be worn at all times, especially when attendees are waiting in lines or walking from one place to another in a crowd.
The only exception will be for people who are gathered in small family groups or when no other person is within six feet.
School administrators and officials will be enforcing the mask requirement. Those in violation may be asked to leave the premises.
“If we see someone without (a mask) when will probably ask them to put it on, but if they do it again, they will be asked to leave,” W-G athletic director Matt Eichhorn said.
W-G hosts Des Moines Christian in volleyball tonight, and the new guidelines will be in place.
The Hawk football team travels to Ogden Friday, where the protocol is similar to the original W-G policy — masks will be strongly encouraged but not mandated.
