WEYMOUTH (CBS) – Health officials said there are currently 37 cases of COVID connected to a cluster at a training center for youth animators in Weymouth. Cheer Sport Sharks said they have followed the COVID protocol strictly for the past year and have so far had no positive case.
The Weymouth Department of Health said it has been investigating the group since Monday.
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Of the 37 cases, four are residents of Weymouth. Other affected cities are Braintree, Rockland, Randolph, Quincy, Brookline, East Bridgewater, Hingham, Kingston, Marion, Franklin, Whitman, Dedham and Easton.
Nurses work to complete contact tracking to ensure that COVID isolation and quarantine requirements are met.
The health department also said it will work to ensure the company works in compliance with state executive order COVID on sports facilities.
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Kel Fichtner with Cheer Sport Sharks posted the following statement below.
“At Cheer Sport Sharks we have followed a strict protocol for the last twelve months that involved door temperature controls, mask policies, social distance policies, frequent sanitation throughout the gym, reduction of athletes inside the gym and we have continued sending monthly reminders to our families about our policies and procedures. With this protocol, we had not had any positive cases of COVID, until recent cases.
In my 25 years as an animation coach and owner of an animation gym, I have never put on anything other than the health and well-being of my athletes. Neither I, nor any staff member nor any parent consciously allowed a known positive Covid case to use our facilities. Quite the opposite is extremely discouraging to feel.
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We will continue to follow the guidelines of the CDC and the Weymouth Health Board and work with them to care for our athletes and families and ensure that our facilities fully meet all safety and health requirements. ”