HOUGHTON — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s administration is getting statewide backlash in the wake of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) January extension of a COVID-19-related ban on high school contact sports.

Last week, both Hancock Public Schools and Calumet-Laurium-Keweenaw (CLK) boards of education took actions in response to the Jan. announcement that contact high school sports are prohibited through Feb. 21, 2021.

The Jan. 22 DHHS epidemic order announced Friday prohibits contact sports from Feb. 1 to 21, which include basketball, ice hockey, wrestling and competitive cheerleading.

On the same day, Jan. 28, the House Oversight Committee met to discuss the Whitmer Administration announcement, the bipartisan Senate Education Committee passed a resolution by 6-0, calling on Whitmer to allow winter high school contact sports to be played. Also on the same day, the CLK passed a resolution in support of local control over learning, instructional and extracurricular modes, and the acknowledgement and support for the statewide efforts to reinstate winter athletics prior to Feb. 21.

The resolution states in part that:

While the order is intended to be in the best interests of the students, these types of prohibitions ignore other very serious harms that students are facing from the continued suspension of high school and youth sports. As a result of school closures, students are suffering from crippling isolation which is severely harming their mental health.

“According to a national survey of more than 3,000 high school and college students regarding coronavirus,” the resolution continues, “87 percent reported stress and anxiety, while 57 percent reported that their mental health had worsened. In addition, experts are concerned about potential increases in youth suicide and argue that it is critically important for teenagers to have regular contact with their peers. Allowing students to participate in high school and youth sports would help reduce social isolation and could significantly improve their mental health.”

The resolution also points out that neighboring states have allowed their students to participate in winter sports for several weeks without any significant COVID-19 outbreaks.

“There is little data available that demonstrates why the continued suspension of high school and youth sports is necessary,” the resolution further states. “According to the Executive Director of the Michigan High School Athletic Association, the negative rate for over 30,000 rapid COVID-19 tests conducted over the last three months with fall sports was 99.8 percent. Furthermore, without school sports, students will seek outside activities through club sports, which could potentially lead to a larger spread of the virus as students travel to various locations. In addition, other neighboring states have allowed their students to participate in winter sports for several weeks without any significant COVID-19 outbreaks…”

Also last Thursday, the House Oversight Committee for the Michigan Legislature scheduled a hearing Thursday to listen to families and athletes’ concerns about pandemic restrictions on play. WWMT News of West Michigan reported that House leaders said families throughout the state have reached out to elected legislators about Whitmer’s decision to extend the ban on certain high school winter sports.

Even though a ban on indoor dining ended Feb.1, youth contact sports, including winter high school seasons in basketball, hockey, wrestling and competitive cheer, remain off-limits because of the coronavirus pandemic. Whitmer declined on Monday, Jan. 18, during a news conference to set a date for the sports to resume.

Radioresultsnetwork.com reported last Wednesday that State Sen. Dale Zorn (R-Ida) called the Senate hearing, and has introduced a resolution calling on Whitmer and the DHHS to lift the suspension on winter high school contact sports and allow play to resume immediately.

“This is about standing up for our student athletes and the positive physical and mental health benefits that participating in sports provides our children,” Zorn was quoted as saying. “Michigan schools and athletes have taken preventive steps to stay safe and worked hard to prepare for a shortened season — only to see their seasons delayed another 20 days with little evidence that they are major drivers in spreading COVID-19.

Zon when on to point out that : “Nearly every state, and all our neighboring states, are allowing their students to participate in winter sports and they have not seen significant outbreaks. Michigan should offer our students the same opportunity to play.”

State Rep. Steve Johnston, Oversight Committee chairman said on his web page that the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) has consistently advocated for play in a fashion that respects the threat facing Michigan while prioritizing safety for players and coaches. A rapid testing pilot program in conjunction with the state’s Department of Health and Human Services that was put in place at the conclusion of the association’s fall championships tested a total of nearly 5,000 athletes, coaches, team personnel, cheerleaders and other applicable individuals. Out of nearly 30,000 tests that were given, 99.8 percent produced negative results.