Rutgers, Michigan State Football Teams in Quarantine

A pair of Big Ten Conference football teams are in full quarantine after recent COVID-19 breakouts.

The Rutgers and Michigan State athletic departments announced late last week that their entire football teams are being quarantined for two weeks. CBS Sports reported that Rutgers took the protective measure after six players tested positive for COVID-19, while Michigan State acted after one player and two staff members tested positive.

“Based on early results from COVID-19 testing conducted over the last week on football staff and student-athletes, which included a second staff member and one student-athlete testing positive on Thursday, all members of the football team will quarantine or isolate, while awaiting completion of a 14-day quarantine,” the July 24 Michigan State athletic department release said. “As part of the athletic department's return to campus policy, student-athletes quarantine when coming into close contact with an individual who tests positive for COVID-19. The university has designated areas available to house individuals in quarantine as needed based upon the living arrangements for student-athletes. Surveillance testing of student-athletes was completed on Wednesday, July 22 as previously planned, and will be repeated prior to their clearance to return to workouts.”

"We have paused all in-person team activities, quarantined our entire program and will work diligently with Rutgers medical experts, and state and local officials to determine next steps," a Rutgers spokesman said, according to CBS Sports.

Rutgers and Michigan State both returned to on-campus workouts June 15, and have been tested regularly since. The Michigan State athletic department had reported July 17 that out of 506 COVID-19 tests since June, there were eight positive tests. Of the 402 student-athlete tests, there were seven positive results. There was one positive staff result out of 104 staff member tests between June 15 and June 17.

Michigan State had postponed workouts Wednesday, while a spokesman told MLive.com that the 14-day quarantine period began Wednesday and would run through Aug. 4. All Michigan State players must isolate, while only staff members who tested positive or show symptoms must do the same. The Spartans are scheduled to start fall camp Aug. 7. The NCAA is currently allowing teams 20 hours per week of activities.

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With the Big Ten canceling the nonconference season, Michigan State is scheduled to open the 2020 season by hosting Northwestern Sept. 5. The Spartans are then scheduled to be off until an Oct. 3 game at Iowa. Rutgers is scheduled to open the season Sept. 26 at Ohio State.

Michigan State senior offensive lineman Jordan Reid tweeted Friday, asking, “Guys are testing positive across the country left and right…why is there still discussion on a season?”

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