Athletics in Michigan Stops – Athletes, Coaches, Team Staff Asked to Quarantine

ANN ARBOR, Mich. A school official confirmed Saturday night that all athletics programs at the University of Michigan will be suspended for 14 days.

Read: New COVID tribe calls for a two-week break from Michigan athletics activities

The decision was made by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. All athletic activities in all sports, including games, team and individual training sessions, have been suspended for up to 14 days until further notice.

Team members – student-athletes, coaches and team staff – are asked to isolate themselves immediately or quarantine.

UM is currently associated with five of the six confirmed cases of the new B.1.1.7 variant of coronavirus. School officials said some of the positive tests are from people involved in the athletics department.

The school said all five individuals are in isolation and are asymptomatic or show only mild symptoms.

“Canceling competitions is never something we want to do, but with so many unknowns about this variant of COVID-19, we must do everything in our power to reduce the spread between student-athletes, coaches, staff and student-athletes.” to limit a minimum. other schools, ”said Warde Manuel, Donald R. Shepherd’s director of athletics.

The school is working closely with the Department of Health in Washtenaw County and MDHHS on additional mitigation strategies to address the COVID-19 B.1.1.7 variant in the university community. The university will carefully consider additional mitigation measures.

There are many unknowns being investigated by UM, local and government officials for public health.

No determination has been made as to how the break could affect the scheduled matches after February 7.

As of January 23, 2021, Washtenaw County has 14,573 confirmed cases of coronavirus.

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