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MSU athletics experiences uptick in positive COVID-19 cases

September 18, 2020
<p>Entrance to a Michigan State University drive-through COVID-19 testing center on April 2, 2020.</p>

Entrance to a Michigan State University drive-through COVID-19 testing center on April 2, 2020.

Photo by Di'Amond Moore | The State News

Michigan State athletics announced Friday that, out of 376 student-athletes who were tested, 45 came back positive for COVID-19. The 12% positivity rate is up from the 7% rate that was reported from the week prior. Out of the 24 staff members who were tested, one came back positive.

On Sept. 12, the school sent out an email to all students strongly recommending them to quarantine for the next 14 days as positive cases continued to rise on campus. Since then, there have been mandatory quarantines put in place for 39 large properties in East Lansing.

Student-athletes who have tested positive will remain in isolation while continuing daily check-ins with the athletic training staff. Prior to returning to any workouts, further testing and physician follow up will be required.

It's worth noting that, as part of the medical protocols put in place for the Big Ten's return to football, a player who tests positive during the season will have to wait at least 21 days before returning to gameplay.

Michigan State athletics has administered 1,950 coronavirus tests since the beginning of June, with 93 student-athletes and six staff members testing positive.

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