Leonia has become the latest school district to call off high school sports this fall due to concerns related to the coronavirus outbreak.

Superintendent Edward Bertolini announced the decision on Thursday in a letter that detailed the reasons for canceling fall sports. The cancelation due to COVID-19 includes sports teams at the Bergen County school district’s high school and middle school.

“After serious deliberation and discussion, the decision has been made to withdraw from the 2020 fall sports season for both the Leonia Middle School and Leonia High School,” Bertolini wrote in the letter. “As the year progresses, we will evaluate the health concerns and how it impacts our participation in upcoming after-school extracurricular activities, including our sports, drama, and music programs.”

Leonia is the latest school district to withdraw from the fall season, joining Carteret, Dover, Teaneck, Piscataway and West Windsor-Plainsboro.

The district made the decision to stay consistent with its RESTART plan that has been put in place for the school day. Bertolini said the safety procedures during the day needed to also be followed after the bell rings in order to keep students safe and avoid “super spreading.”

Bertolini also said the decision was made with the help of a medical subcommittee that included insight from the borough’s public health official, school doctor, and school nurses. That group unanimously said to cancel athletics due to health concerns.

Leonia principal Charles Kalender also showed support for the decision in the letter.

“It is extremely hard for me as a former coach to write these words,” Kalender wrote. “I feel terrible for all of the student-athletes and families and know there will be many upset with this decision, but from a health and safety perspective of ALL Leonia students, staff, and families, I believe it is the proper decision.”

Bertolini said the district also looked at the decisions made by the Big Ten, Pac-12, Ivy League, New Jersey Athletic Conference and Monmouth University to not play sports this fall. Leonia used that information to make a pro-active decision to end its fall sports season.

“As professional, collegial, and high school leagues across the state and country withdraw from the upcoming sports season, it has become apparent that this course of action is an unfortunate necessity,” said Leonia Board of Education President Bryce Robins. “After significant discussion with our public health and medical officials, it is the right decision to withdraw from the fall sports season.”