Volleyball league linked to potentially large COVID-19 outbreak, Illinois officials say
Fourteen people who played or watched volleyball at an Illinois sports bar have tested positive for COVID-19, according to the Lake County Health Department.
Officials warn there could be many more cases stemming from the adult volleyball league at Jesse Oaks Food & Drink. The sports bar with indoor and outdoor volleyball courts is located 45 miles south of Chicago.
Some of the people who tested positive for COVID-19 also played volleyball at other locations, the health department said.
“We are currently working diligently to speak with infected individuals and notify close contacts who have been identified,” said Dr. Sana Ahmed, Medical Epidemiologist at the Lake County Health Department. “However, nearly 200 volleyball players and spectators may have been exposed. This could potentially be a large outbreak, and we need the public’s help to contain the spread of this virus.”
Those who played volleyball at the sports bar have been asked to quarantine at home for 14 days following their last game and to be tested. People who visited the bar and did not wear a mask have also been asked to quarantine.
Cases have been linked to both indoor and outdoor courts at the facility, a health department official told McClatchy News.
Jesse Oaks has suspended its volleyball activities for two weeks and will be allowed to resume when it complies with state guidelines, the health department said.
Under Illinois guidelines, volleyball is a “medium risk sport” and no competitive matches are allowed, said Larry Mackey, Director of Environmental Health at the health department.
“Failing to abide by these guidelines puts the public’s health at risk, prolongs the pandemic, and has the potential to force additional restrictions on local businesses that are working so hard to protect their employees and customers,” Mackey said in a release. “We continue to address any complaints of facilities not following these guidelines and are working closely with business owners to help them operate safely. When businesses don’t cooperate, however, we have no choice but to pursue enforcement measures.”
The sports bar did implement some rules for its volleyball games due to the COVID-19 pandemic. There were no end-of-game handshakes, spectators were allowed only if the group did not have more than 10 players and no more than 10 people were allowed at tables after games.
Jesse Oaks has not commented on social media about the outbreak.
There have been 16,960 COVID-19 cases in Lake County and 464 deaths as of Sept. 29, the health department said.
