The University of Maryland announced Thursday evening that all training is temporarily suspended following a spike in positive coronavirus tests within the student-athlete population.
"On August 31 and September 1, 2020, the University Health Center conducted on-campus screening for 501 student-athletes. A total of 46 student-athletes have tested positive, affecting 10 different teams," the university's statement read. "Student-athletes will be tested again on Tuesday, September 8. As a precautionary measure, all athletics training activities have been suspended until those test results are received."
As reported by Sports Illustrated, Maryland has tested 2,191 athletes to date, with 63 positive results.
Maryland's surge is not good news for fans hoping the Big Ten will reverse its decision to postpone fall sports until 2021. Conference member presidents and chancellors are expected to vote on the fate of the fall season today. News of the vote came just one day after U.S. president Donald Trump revealed he and Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren had a “productive” conversation.
Maryland's fall semester started this week, with in-person instruction set to begin Sept. 14. "To help with our efforts to phase in the resumption of on-campus activities, and out of an abundance of caution, we begin this semester with all undergraduate instruction delivered online,” University of Maryland president Darryll Pines wrote in an email to students on August 31, as reported by SI. “It is our hope and expectation that in-person and blended instruction will resume on September 14, because we believe that the richness of a University journey comes from an on-campus environment, where a community of scholars, students and staff unite for an academic, research, residential, social and athletic experience.”
