Marquette University’s men’s and women’s basketball programs have paused all team activities for the next two weeks after receiving positive COVID-19 test results.
The university says all athletes and team personnel, considered Tier 1 by the NCAA, were tested on October 19. Results found each program has one positive test.
That means 45 people will be in quarantine for 14 days.
“We have talked as a team on multiple occasions about keeping our focus on what we are able to control when it comes to the impact COVID-19 has had on our lives,” says head men’s basketball coach Steve Wojciechowski. “While there are so many uncertainties with the virus, one action we are able to control is our response to the test results and our efforts as a program to keep everyone associated as healthy and safe as possible.”
“We appreciate our entire community’s efforts to help keep Marquette Athletics and our student-athletes healthy,” says head women’s basketball coach Megan Duffy. “Despite the setback, we are extremely excited to start the season and look forward to being back on the court soon.”
Marquette Athletics says they have conducted 809 tests of student-athletes and staff since August 28. There have been total of eight positive cases. They add contact tracing as a result of testing has led to the pause of team activities in a number of programs this fall.
“Our student-athletes and staff members have been doing a tremendous job in relation to following university and NCAA COVID-19 protocols and that effort has been reflected in our department’s low positivity rate,” says Vice President and Director of Athletics Bill Scholl. “The actions we are taking surrounding the basketball programs are a proactive measure aimed at stopping the potential for increased infection, with the health and safety of everyone involved our highest priority.”
Practices for the teams are scheduled to resume November 4.
.@MarquetteU #mubb and #muwbb pause team activities for 14 days after 2-of-45 COVID-19 tests come back positive, Student-athletes & Tier 1 staff will quarantine and may return to practice Nov. 4. RELEASE: https://t.co/XLBuaQj8et pic.twitter.com/sn82vYbXYO
— Marquette Basketball (@MarquetteMBB) October 21, 2020
