EL PASO, TEXAS (KTSM) – A Cathedral High School football player has tested positive for COVID-19, the Catholic Diocese of El Paso announced on Friday. As a result, the school’s offseason workouts have been suspended until further notice.

According to a press release, the athlete had been participating in the school’s offseason workout program since they began on Monday. All parents, athletes and staff have been notified of the positive test and have been strongly encouraged to get tested themselves, and quarantine for 14 days.

Diocese officials told KTSM that the student-athlete began feeling ill and exhibiting symptoms on Thursday. His positive test result came back on Friday. The last time the student-athlete was around other students was on Wednesday.

“Our reaction is I’m sure what other entities in the El Paso area would be if they had the same situation that we did,” said Fernando Ceniceros, public information officer for the Catholic Diocese of El Paso. “We don’t want to be a cautionary tale or anything like that, but we do want to make sure (it’s known) that adequate measures were taken, but a child still tested positive.”

Student-athletes at Cathedral were not required, but strongly encouraged, to get tested for COVID-19 prior to the start of workouts.

According to the Diocese, Cathedral opened up for workouts on Monday, following the guidelines, protocols and restrictions of the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools and the University Interscholastic League. During operation of the training facility, athletic staff and athletes strictly adhered to social distancing guidelines, wore masks, and conducted wellness and contactless temperature checks. All equipment was sanitized after each use, and a disinfection fogger was used on the entire facility after every team workout.

Cathedral will use the 14-day quarantine to reevaluate any plans to return to workouts after the suspension of activities.

Sources have told KTSM that El Paso ISD and Socorro ISD are scheduled to bring their athletes back for workouts on June 15; Ysleta ISD is currently planning for either June 22 or June 29. Las Cruces Public Schools has set its return date for June 22.

Canutillo Independent School District, San Elizario Independent School District, Fabens Independent School District, and Anthony Independent School District all plan on opening no earlier than June 15.