DATE: June 17, 2020
Two Football Student-Athletes Test Positive for COVID-19
Regular testing to continue; Cleared student-athletes will continue workouts in small groups to meet University and CDC guidelines.
TAMPA, JUNE 17, 2020 – USF announced Wednesday that two student-athletes from the football team have tested positive for COVID-19 following the first week of voluntary on-campus athletic activities that began June 10.
“We continue to monitor very closely our student-athletes that have returned to campus and maintain diligent protocols outlined by our Infection Response Team – including screening, testing and sanitization – with the first priority being student-athletes’ health and safety,” Scott said. “We will continue to follow the guidance of our sports medicine professionals and university, state and local authorities while allowing student-athletes who have been cleared to continue voluntary workouts in small groups with strict protocols.”
Initial workouts began with more the 75 student-athletes in the football program. All returning student-athletes and staff interacting with student-athletes were tested for COVID-19 prior to the start of the voluntary workouts and being granted access to facilities. Contact tracing around positive tests and regular testing is continuing.
Workouts are being conducted in small groups of around 10. To allow for proper social distancing, Athletics has expanded its facility footprint by moving weight equipment to outdoor locations under tents and athletic activities are occurring outside of the Lee Roy Selmon Athletics Center. Protocols have been implemented for screening, distancing, cleaning, sanitation and use of personal protective equipment to minimize the potential spread of the virus.
USF Athletics will continue to monitor and evaluate policies on physical spacing, contact tracing, testing and other safety requirements as more information is made available from the CDC, state and local officials, the American Athletic Conference and the NCAA.
About USF Football
The USF football program first took the field in 1997 and completed its 23rd season (20th at the FBS level) in 2019. The Bulls have posted 15 winning seasons, earned 14 All-America selections and 29 first-team all-conference selections and has seen 30 players selected in the NFL Draft. USF has made 10 bowl games appearances (going 6-4 in those games) and posted a program record six straight appearances from 2005-2010. The Bulls most recently made four straight bowl appearances from 2015-18 and posted back-to-back 10-win seasons in 2016 and 2017, logging a program-record 11-2 mark in 2016 while finishing both seasons ranked in the Top 25. USF spent a program record 20 straight weeks ranked in the Top 25 during the 2016 and 2017 seasons and reached as high as No. 2 in the national rankings during the 2007 season.
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