13 Texas football players test positive for the coronavirus, 10 others in quarantine
By John Buhler
The coronavirus has already impacted the Texas football team this spring.
Texas football is the latest college football program to deal with positive COVID-19 tests.
The Texas Longhorns had many of their football players return to campus on June 11 for voluntary workouts. As expected, the necessary protocols would be in place to handle the global pandemic stemming from the coronavirus. As a shock to no one, a few players tested positive for the virus and many appear to have the antibody, meaning they’ve had the virus already unknowingly.
Anwar Richardson, who covers the Longhorns for Rivals, tweeted on Wednesday morning, “The number of positive Covid-19 tests within the Texas Longhorn football team is up to six, according to my sources. There are roughly 15 players being quarantined right now.”
247Sports reports, “The Longhorns tested roughly half the football team for COVID-19 last week in preparation for voluntary workouts beginning on campus June 15, resulting in two positive tests for COVID-19 and another player who tested positive for the antibodies.”
“This week, the other half of the team underwent testing on Monday and Tuesday, resulting in four more positive tests for COVID-19, the source said. Because of contract tracing – determining who the infected person has most recently been in contact with – at least 15 players were in quarantine as of Wednesday morning, the source said.”
After the initial round of positive cases, it was announced that 13 Texas football players have now tested positive for the coronavirus and 10 others are currently quarantined.
Texas football has 13 positive coronavirus tests, 10 players quarantined.
The good news is all 58 Longhorns players who reported to voluntary workouts on June 11 have been tested for the coronavirus. Two tested positive last week and four this week with 15 in quarantine. These positive tests have also happened in the middle of June as opposed to the middle of the football season. They have time to develop immunity to the virus before the season.
Texas isn’t alone in dealing with positive coronavirus tests as schools are all handling their positive cases as teams return to campus across the country. As long as the universities take control and manage the virus the best they can, they’ll be in decent shape for football season.
College football is the one sport where there is the most uncertainty about returning this fall. Playing without fans takes away from the fabric of the sport, plus, these are student-athletes and not paid professionals. While other sports leagues may echo the UFC’s sentiment of not shutting the whole thing down over one test, it’ll be interesting to see what the NCAA does here.
Texas football is the latest program to have to navigate the challenges of the coronavirus.
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