Following the death of a well-known Alabama fan, the Marion County Department of Health is investigating whether anyone who was in Indianapolis for the NCAA Tournament last weekend was exposed to the coronavirus by any Alabama resident.
The Tuscaloosa News reports that Luke Ratliff, a 23-year-old student in Alabama, died Friday of complications related to COVID-19. According to the newspaper, he attended Alabama’s game against UCLA at Hinkle Fieldhouse last weekend and returned to Tuscaloosa shortly thereafter. Ratliff was then admitted to the hospital earlier this week with an illness. He was a well-known fan known as Fluffopotamus, who was known to many in his checkered jacket this season and the leader of the Crimson Chaos support group for basketball campuses.
The Marion County Department of Public Health confirmed in a statement to ESPN on Saturday that it had reached the Alabama Department of Public Health.
“Based on a recent news report, the Marion County Department of Public Health and the Indiana Department of Health are contacting the Alabama Department of Public Health to determine if anyone in Indianapolis may have been exposed to COVID-19 by a Alabama, who has been visiting Indianapolis in recent days, “the country said in a statement from the NCAA.” We are currently investigating the state and state standard procedures. “
The NCAA did not immediately respond to ESPN’s request for comment.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.