Penn State Athletics’ latest round of testing data gives some insight into the scope of a COVID-19 outbreak that caused the postponement of four men’s basketball games and the start of Penn State’s wrestling season.
For the period of January 9-15, Penn State Athletics conducted 1,590 COVID-19 tests of students with 16 positive test results. The testing numbers include the Big Ten’s daily antigen testing protocol, which began Sept. 30. As per usual, total tests is not a reflection of total individuals tested.
According to one source, student athletes and staff members have been tested as much as three times in a single day as a part of ongoing contact-tracing measures.
“The health and safety of our student-athletes, coaches, staff and the broader community are of the utmost importance,” a department press release said.
“Therefore, as part of the protocols established in the return to campus plan by the Penn State Athletics medical staff and in consultation with University, local and national officials and guidelines, individuals with a positive test have been assigned to isolation for 10 days. In addition to isolation, contact tracing procedures have been implemented, which includes a 14-day quarantine and testing for those individuals who might have been determined to be close contacts of positive individuals, even if asymptomatic.”
Penn State men’s basketball returned to play after four-straight games were postponed due to positive COVID-19 tests. Ultimately no Nittany Lion in the team’s main and usual rotation were required to miss time beyond the postponement.
A similar outbreak within the wrestling program caused the postponement of the season-opening meet against Rutgers. Penn State is next scheduled to wrestle for in its home-opener this Sunday against Michigan State.
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