Three Cal student-athletes reportedly test positive for COVID-19
Less than two weeks after the school announced student-athletes could return to campus, three of 96 tests have returned positive for COVID-19.
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Cal Sports Report is reporting that Cal student-athletes have tested positive for COVID-19.
Responding to a request from Cal Sports Report, Cal Athletics on Tuesday confirmed three student-athletes have tested positive for COVID-19 after returning to campus for voluntary workouts.
The athletic department said it tested 96 student-athletes — most of them football players — at University Health Services (UHS) coinciding with their arrival back on campus.
In response, the university has begun “contact tracing and testing protocols”. There is no word on the severity of their symptoms, but one of the student-athletes left the Bay Area to return home.
Voluntary athletic activities have not yet begun for any of our teams, but student-athletes were allowed to return to campus on June 17 per an announcement made by the university on that day. These workouts will be delayed, with their start dependent on the results of their contact tracing.
That's not surprising, about 3%. But it's extremely important for the coaching staff and senior players to emphasize risk reduction. The post-viral syndrome can jeopardize one's entire season though illness and underperformance.* Aside from emphasizing accountability, team sports should regularly use pooled testing, which would be above the student population requirements due to the contact involved.
I'm still not sure we should be doing this, but if we are, we best damn do it right.
*(Obviously their health as human beings is of paramount concern, but that argument tends to fall flat with 18yos.)
I kind of feared this would happen. The delays and following of the correct procedures seems to threaten the season. But we shall see.