URI football team to quarantine after two positive cases of COVID-19

November 2, 2020 3:15 pm

Dominique Turner,

KINGSTON, R.I. (WLNE) – The University of Rhode Island announced Monday that the football team has paused all team activities for two weeks following two positive COVID-19 cases.

The positive test results were reported on Saturday, one from a student-athlete and the other from a staff member. After contract tracing by the Rhode Island Department of Health, it was decided that all football student-athletes and select staff members should quarantine for two weeks.

“Our highest priority is the health and well-being of the student-athletes, everyone associated with our programs and the overall campus community,” Director of Athletics Thorr Bjorn said. “We will take an abundance of caution in effort to limit the possibility of spread.”

Assistant Director of Communications, Dave Lavallee said, “Since the fall semester began, all athletic programs have slowly and safely increased practice pod numbers in accordance with state and University guidelines.”

The University of Rhode Island is continuing mandatory testing of students and surveillance testing of faculty and staff.

From October 25 through November 1, the University conducted 4,493 tests, with 31 positive results. The University’s positivity rate remains below 1 percent.