NASSAU COUNTY, NY – Nassau County Executive Laura Curran penned an open letter urging the Nassau County Section VIII committee and New York State Public High School Athletic Association to implement a sensible solution that allows high school sports to safely resume in accordance with science-based guidance issued by New York State.
In the letter addressed to Pat Pizzarelli, Executive Director of Nassau’s Section VIII, County Executive Curran notes, “Nassau began a careful, data-driven reopening 99 days ago, and the results we’ve witnessed since have been remarkable. Nassau’s positivity rate has held steady at 1% throughout the summer because our residents have stayed vigilant.” County Executive Curran credits the “resolve” shown by residents for Nassau’s cautious expansion of reopening, including “allowing private sporting leagues, organizations and camps to resume play under new, sometimes creative safety guidelines.”
The County Executive continues, “I know we share a strong conviction that the health and safety of our communities must come first. I’ve continued to advocate for the resumption of organized sports exactly because of its importance to the well-being of our young people. Youth are particularly susceptible to the negative effects of long-term sedentary lifestyles, and feelings of social and physical isolation. For some, school sports are a path to promising academic and career opportunities.”
County Executive Curran concludes, “Residents have demonstrated extraordinary ability to adapt to this crisis, and I’m confident they’re ready to adhere to the safety measures necessary to get our kids back on the playing field in a school setting.”
The full letter is attached.