Reports: Three Cal student-athletes test positive for coronavirus

According to reports from Cal Sports Report, the California Golden Bears Athletics Department has stated that on Tuesday, three student-athletes tested positive for COVID-19. Those three athletes were part of 96 student-athletes who were tested, the majority of them being football players, as they returned to campus for voluntary activities.

The testing took place at University Health Systems though Cal did not specify in those reports which athletes tested positive, and thus we are unaware of whether or not they were indeed football players.

The report from Cal Sports Report also stated that one of the three athletes has returned home to his home outside the Bay Area.

Though three positive tests is absolutely newsworthy, it’s nothing in comparison to the likes of other programs with widespread problems on campus. Clemson had at least 37 players test positive and elsewhere in the Pac-12, the Arizona Wildcats have halted their players from returning in general due to record number of positive cases in their state.

Cal said they have no plan to halt the return of student-athletes at this time.

The full statement from Cal Athletics to Cal Sports Report:

Cal Athletics has implemented its contact tracing and testing protocols after three student-athletes tested positive for COVID-19. Overall, Cal Athletics has tested 96 student-athletes at University Health Services (UHS) as part of its plan for voluntary outdoor workouts.

Contact tracing is being conducted through UHS Infection Control, Berkeley Public Health and Alameda County Public Health, and Cal Athletics will follow their recommendations for self-isolation, self-quarantine, symptom monitoring and treatment. One of the student-athletes who tested positive has returned to his home outside of the Bay Area.

On June 17, Cal Athletics announced that student-athletes could return to campus in preparation for voluntary outdoor conditioning workouts. No athletic activities have begun, and out of an abundance of caution, the start of workouts has been delayed pending sufficient progress on contact tracing.

Under a comprehensive plan, protocols call for student-athletes to self-quarantine in their residences upon arrival and undergo testing for both past and current infection of COVID-19. If a student-athlete is clear and has no active infection, the next step is to receive a pre-participation physical and medical clearance. Voluntary workouts and physical activity may begin after receiving clearance.

This is a developing story, and we’ll stay on top of it.