Five UTEP Student-Athletes Test Positive for COVID-19
Last Updated on July 04, 2020 at 12:00 AM
Originally published July 04, 2020
By UC Staff
UTEP Communications
During the last month, approximately 60 student-athletes have been participating in voluntary workouts on the UTEP campus to prepare for the 2020-21 athletics season.
Multiple precautions have been taken by the Athletics Administration, Sports Medicine personnel, and Strength and Conditioning team to protect the health and safety of the student-athletes and the staff members who come in contact with them. For example, we designated one entrance and one exit in each facility; required all student-athletes to check in prior to entering the facility, during which time their temperature was checked and they responded to recommended medical questions; limited use of the elevators to staff members only with maximum occupancy of one person; made access to the training room and coaches offices by appointment only to limit the number of people in each area; restricted the number of people in the locker room at a time; and limited workout groups to a maximum of 15 people.
Student-athletes are required to wear face masks in the athletic facilities. Workout equipment and lockers are sanitized after each use by the student-athletes and staff members. In addition, all student-athletes and staff have been directed to stay home when they are sick, maintain social distance and wash their hands regularly. All the student-athletes were tested for COVID-19 prior to gaining access to Athletics facilities and all submitted an initial negative test result.
At the beginning of July, five UTEP student-athletes tested positive for COVID-19 and will self-quarantine for 14 days. Following the positive tests, UTEP Athletics facilities were immediately closed for extensive cleaning. Out of an overabundance of caution, all UTEP Athletics facilities will be closed to student-athletes until Thursday, July 16, when voluntary workouts will resume. This delay in reopening will provide us with more time separation after the fourth of July holiday and allow for the maximum number of student-athletes to resume voluntary workouts. Student-athletes will continue to be tested, and cleared, before using Athletics facilities.
