Gosnell Junior High player tests positive for COVID-19

Tuesday afternoon, the Gosnell Pirates football social media announced that a junior high football player tested positive for COVID-19.

“Jr. High and 7th grade practice is canceled until August 10th. If you have cards or card money bring it to the field house (Wednesday) between 8 am -10 am,” the Facebook post reads. “The Gosnell School District had a Jr. High player test positive for Covid-19. Practices has (sic) been canceled and facilities are being sanitized. We will continue to follow the Arkansas Department of Health guidelines.”

The NEA Town Courier reached out to Gosnell Pirates head coach Lewis Earnest for comment, asking if senior high practices will also be on hold because the coaching staffs coach both the senior and junior high teams and the same equipment is used by both teams.

Earnest deferred questions to Gosnell superintendent Bonard Mace.

Mace said the Gosnell School District is continuing to follow the guidelines from the Arkansas Department of Health and that the district was already going to shut down the junior high practices. Mace stated he is unaware of Earnest's decision of closing senior high practice down and that to his knowledge the senior high will be practicing as normal.

Earnest stated that the senior high practiced Wednesday morning and that they will be off Thursday and Friday, which has been scheduled since June.