Kelly Helton, owner and operator of the gymnasium, said two coaches and seven athletes tested positive in the past week, but none of them is seriously ill. Prior to that, only seven cases were connected to the gym since it reopened in late May, she said.
>>> COVID-19 CASES ARE RISING IN NORTH CAROLINA AND ONE CHEERLEADING GYMNASIUM HAS A CLUSTER WITH NINE TESTING POSITIVE AT THIS LOCATION. >>> I'M GERALD OWENS. >> I'M KATHRYN BROWN AND THOSE COVID CASES HAVE FORCED THE OWNER TO SHUT DOWN FOR TWO WEEKS. WE HAVE JOE FISHER OUTSIDE OF CHEER EXTREME ALL-STARS AND THEY EXPECT MORE CASES? >> Reporter: THAT IS RIGHT. THEY ARE TRACING CLOSE CONTACTS OF THOSE POSITIVE CASES, SO OTHER CHEERLEADERS WILL GET TESTED. THEY ARE WAITING RESULTS AND DO EXPECT SOME OF THESE NUMBERS TO INCREASE. THIS IS HAPPENING AS THE GYM TAKES SERIOUS PRECAUTIONS. YOU HAVE TO HAVE A MASK ON TO ENTER AND THE OWNER SAID CHEERLEADERS HAVE TO WEAR MASKS WHILE PRACTICING. AS CHEERLEADERS PRACTICE ON THE MATS WITH MASKS ON, PARENTS ARE REQUIRED TO WATCH THROUGH WINDOWS FROM OUTSIDE. >> I DO EVERYTHING I CAN AT THIS GYM TO KEEP IT SAFE. >> Reporter: CHEER EXTREME ALL- STARS IN RALEIGH REOPENED IN LATE MAY WITH PRECAUTIONS FOR ITS NEARLY 500 CHEERLEADERS. THIS WEEK, SEVEN ATHLETES AND TWO COACHES TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID-19. IN THE 20 WEEKS PRIOR, SEVEN CHEERLEADERS TESTED POSITIVE. THE RECENT SPIKE IS ATTRIBUTED TO THE GOVERNOR'S PHASE 3 ORDER. >> I DO EVERYTHING I CAN INSIDE THE GYMNASIUM. WHEN THEY REOPEN SCHOOLS, YOU KNOW, THEIR PARENTS ALLOW THEM TO SEE THEIR FRIENDS. YOU CAN'T LIVE IN FEAR. >> Reporter: TEMPERATURES ARE TAKEN AT THE DOOR AND CHEERLEADERS SANITIZE THROUGHOUT PRACTICE. EVEN WITH PRECAUTIONS, THERE ARE RISKS AND PARENTS UNDERSTAND. >> THEY MADE A DECISION TO BE IN LARGER GROUPS. THEY WERE OKAY WITH THAT BECAUSE IT MEANS A LOT TO THESE KIDS. >> Reporter: BACK OUT HERE LIVE, YOU ARE LOOKING AT A FAMILY THAT JUST SHOWED UP FOR CHEER PRACTICE TO FIND OUT THAT IT IS CLOSED. THEY SENT OUT COMMUNICATION AND THIS FAMILY DIDN'T GET IT. THEY WILL REOPEN NOVEMBER 1. THE CHEERLEADERS RANGE FROM THREE THROUGH 35 YEARS OLD AND THE OWNER IS NOT GOING INTO SPECIFICS ABOUT THE AGES OF THOSE WHO TESTED POSITIVE, BUT SAID NO YOUNG CHILDREN HAVE BEEN INFECTED AND EVERYONE WHO WAS INFECTED IS NOT SERIOUSLY
