Student tests negative for COVID-19; football practice resumes Saturday

Du Quoin Indians football workouts will resume Saturday, now that a student-athlete feared to have COVID-19 has tested negative for the virus.

Players and coaches had just gotten back together on Tuesday after a two-week hiatus. They had been off since June 30, when one Du Quoin player tested positive for the coronavirus.

Practice was abruptly called off after Tuesday's workout, after it was learned one student - who did not come to practice - was feeling ill. Coach Derek Beard found out about it when he made routine calls to players who had missed the workout.

The student did not attend Tuesday practice to avoid exposing other players to his illness, which Superintendent Matt Hickam praised.

"We had a student who did the right thing and was not (at practice)," the superintendent said.

Hickam said while there is no chance the student could have passed COVID-19 to other players at a football workout, officials believe he could have passed it to other students outside of school.

Three student-athletes at Du Quoin High School so far have tested positive for COVID-19 - one football player and two cheerleaders.

The other sports that have been given the green light to practice - cross-country, cheerleading and dance team - were allowed to continue workouts without interruption.