Published in the August 29, 2019 edition.

WAKEFIELD — The Wakefield High football team appeared recently in the Boston Herald in a story regarding some Massachusetts high schools in EEE virus zones pushing their football night games up to the afternoon.

On Tuesday, the Warriors scrimmaged at Methuen High School, which currently falls in a EEE zone along with other towns like Andover whose risk for EEE range from critical to high.

The risk of contacting EEE, a deadly virus carried by mosquitoes, is greater during the evening than daylight hours. That has Methuen and other high schools changing the schedule of their early season games to be played during the daylight.

The Warriors and Rangers played their scrimmage at 5 p.m. and made sure to be off the field by 7 p.m.

Wakefield is not currently in a EEE zone. According to the Herald, “nearly a third of the 24 communities considered at critical risk by the Executive Office of Health and Human Services are in the southeastern part of the state.”

According to a map of current EEE risk levels released by the state, no towns in the Middlesex League are currently at risk, but the league is monitoring the situation.

“To my knowledge, I have not heard of any EEE reports in our immediate area, meaning Wakefield and surrounding communities,” said Wakefield athletic director Brendan Kent. “I don’t anticipate it being an issue.”

As the league continues to follow the story, changes might be made, but as of now, no game times have been moved.

The Warriors open their season at home on Friday, Sept. 6 at
7 p.m.