Michigan State is asking students to self-quarantine for 14 days because of a COVID-19 outbreak.
On the same day the Big Ten steering committee heard a presentation from the conference’s return-to-competition committee, Michigan State had to ask its student body to self-quarantine.
The recommendation for a 14-day quarantine for Michigan State students comes from the Ingham County Health Department in a bid to slow the growth of COVID-19 cases in the area, CNN reported.
A recent outbreak of 342 new coronavirus cases was linked directly to the university.
“At least a third of new cases recently attended parties or social gatherings, and at least one-third of those gatherings are associated with a fraternity or sorority,” the health department said.
How will self-quarantining impact Michigan State football?
The health department is encouraging students to self-quarantine until Sept. 26. It’s not a true quarantine though. Students are allowed to attend “in-person instruction, labs, and intercollegiate athletic training.”
In essence, Michigan State wants students to stop going to parties and gatherings. Classes, labs and sports can continue.
For the Spartan football team, which had to quarantine in July, that means they will be able to keep practicing in preparation for a potential Big Ten season. Since the conference is on the verge of voting on whether to return in mid-October, a different policy could have created major problems.
The vote is particularly interesting for Michigan State with the backdrop of an active outbreak on campus. MSU was one of the schools which voted in favor of canceling the fall season in the first place.
New head coach Mel Tucker can look forward to an entirely unconventional first season with the Spartans, whether play kicks off on Oct. 17 or Jan. 17.
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