What was a friendly pickup football game at Plainedge High School this past weekend has now turned into a mandatory quarantine for about 40 students after one person involved tested positive for COVID-19.
According to an email from the district superintendent, the group reportedly shared water bottles and food with each other while playing on the field.
In another email to the community sent Sunday night, superintendent Edward Salina wrote, "Those students have been directed to quarantine and not attend school effective immediately. Prior to returning to school, they will be required to produce a negative COVID-19 test result from a medical professional."
Dr. Mundeep Kainth, with Cohen's Children's Medical Center, called an event like this the kind of event that "can spur outbreaks in communities."
Plainedge High School junior Latifa Lamnigi says she understands that kids want to hang out and be social, but that being careless puts everyone at risk.
"They should've been way more careful and a lot more responsible since there is a pandemic going around right now," she says. "Understand that they want to play football and they want to hang out with their friends which is totally fine, as long as they're being safe."