The University of Houston has suspended all voluntary workouts after six symptomatic student-athletes tested positive for COVID-19.
Here’s more, from the school’s press release:
The University of Houston Department of Athletics is immediately suspending all voluntary workouts for student-athletes, out of an abundance of caution.
The decision, made in consultation with internal and external medical experts, comes after six symptomatic UH student-athletes tested positive for COVID-19 along with the increase in the number of positive tests in the greater Houston area over the last week.
The impacted students have been placed in isolation and contact tracing procedures have been initiated following protocol.
On June 9, Joseph Duarte of the Houston Chronicle reported that the university did not test the athletes for COVID-19 before allowing voluntary workout participation (which began on June 1).
Of note: Houston did not conduct COVID-19 tests as athletes returned to campus last week. Plans are to only test if a player shows symptoms. https://t.co/cdvMYPWjTS
— Joseph Duarte (@Joseph_Duarte) June 9, 2020
As part of release, Houston says "as was contemplated prior to the return of (athletes) on June 1 …" COVID-19 testing will now be conducted. If contemplated, what was reason for not doing it? A valid question that should be answered. School will have no further comment tonight
— Joseph Duarte (@Joseph_Duarte) June 12, 2020
That’s a very bad look for Houston, and it’s been a huge problem across college sports in recent weeks. Here’s a list of schools that have known COVID-19 positives cases:
Schools to have known COVID-19 positive cases according to reports and school announcements:
Auburn
Alabama
Arkansas State
Boise State
Florida State
Houston
Iowa
Marshall
Mississippi
Oklahoma State
Texas
Texas Tech
UCF— Joseph Duarte (@Joseph_Duarte) June 12, 2020
A second COVID-19 wave is already underway (though the first one really never stopped), after reopenings and looser restrictions have occurred across the country. The city of Houston is even considering reimposing stay-at-home orders following the rise in COVID-19 cases.
There were already several reasons to be skeptical about the upcoming college basketball and football seasons happening in 2020, and athletes testing positive for COVID-19 after resuming team activities certainly won’t improve those chances.
The schools need to treat this situation with much more caution, and testing should be mandatory for all athletes before returning to team activities.
