Perry declares Texas a disaster area, UIL cancels all events

Texas Governor Rick Perry has issued a disaster proclamation for the entire state of Texas in relation to the spread of swine flu.  This will allow Texas to access additional resources, including 25 percent (850,000 courses) of the Texas allotment of antiviral medication from the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Strategic National Stockpile.

The governor has echoed the suggestion of other health officials in how to best deal with the H1N1 virus (swine flu):

•Stay home when you are sick to avoid spreading illness to others.
•Cough or sneeze into the crook of your elbow or a tissue and properly dispose of used tissues.
•Wash hands frequently and thoroughly with soap and warm water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

For additional information on the swine flu, please visit:
www.dshs.state.tx.us/swineflu
www.cdc.gov/swineflu/

To reach the Texas Department of State Health Services press office, contact Doug McBride, DSHS Press Officer, 512-458-7524 or 512-532-4950.

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UIL Schedules Altered Due to Swine Flu

Media Contact: Kim Rogers
Phone: 512) 471-5883
Fax: (512) 471-6589
Email: uilpr@mail.uil.utexas.edu
Date: 04/29/2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

AUSTIN, TX— On the recommendation of Dr. David Lakey, Commissioner of the Texas
Department of State Health Services, and in consultation with Texas Education Agency
Commissioner Robert Scott, the University Interscholastic League is altering its schedule of
events due to the outbreak of the swine flu in Texas. Effective immediately, all UIL
interscholastic competition is suspended until May 11.  

“The health and safety of our student activity participants is of the utmost importance,” said
UIL Executive Director Dr. Charles Breithaupt.  “Taking every possible precaution to
prevent the further spreading of this disease is an important contribution to the welfare of
our great state, and altering the schedule of our events is a way to keep our participants
safe.”

As this is a fluid situation, the UIL tentatively releases the following schedule for UIL
regional and state events affected by this situation.

Academic State Meet
The UIL Academic State Meet, originally scheduled for May 7-9, will be rescheduled at a
later date.  The Conference 4A and 5A One-Act Play competition will continue as
previously scheduled on May 15-16. All other conferences competing in One-Act Play will
be rescheduled. A schedule of the Academic State Meet, including One-Act Play, will be
posted on the UIL web site once finalized.

Texas State Wind Ensemble Festival
The Texas State Wind Ensemble Festival, originally scheduled for May 9, has been
cancelled.  The UIL staff will consult with the 16 participating schools to determine
whether or not to reschedule the event at a later date. 

Regional Track Meets
All UIL regional track meets originally scheduled for this weekend, May 1-2, have been
cancelled.  The state track and field meet will be extended to a three-day format to include
semifinal heats.  The meet is tentatively scheduled for Thursday, Friday and Saturday, May
14-16.

Semifinal qualifiers will be based on the district track meet results.  Each region will be
represented at the state meet by the top four performances in each event for all conferences.
Hand-held times will be converted to fully automatic times as defined by the National
Federation of State High School Association rules.  A revised track and field state meet
schedule will be posted on the UIL web site no later than Friday, May 1.  Qualifiers to the
UIL state track and field meet will be posted on the UIL web site on Wednesday, May 6.

Golf State Tournament
The UIL golf state tournament will take place at the previously scheduled times beginning
May 11.

Tennis State Tournament
The UIL tennis state tournament will take place at the previously scheduled times beginning
May 11.

Baseball and Softball
No interschool games will take place until May 11 for either softball or baseball.  Below is
an altered playoff schedule for both sports.