The state of Ohio has suspended all football team-related activities and closed the administrative offices of Woody Hayes Athletic Center for one week due to an increase in positive cases of coronavirus.
The decision, announced Tuesday morning, was made by athletic director Gene Smith and chief physologist Jim Borchers. They made the call following the latest round of PCR testing done on Monday.
“Our decisions about the well-being of student-athletes, staff members and those who come to our campus, and our determination about when we will start again and resume our activities, will continue to be guided by our medical staff,” Smith said in a statement said. . ‘We have managed to host almost 100 athletics events with limited breaks this year, but this pandemic is not over yet. We will continue to emphasize the safety precautions of wearing masks, consistent and thorough hand washing and physical distance, and we will remain vigilant in those areas. ”
This is the first break for the football program since team activities were interrupted for four days at the end of November.
It is unclear how many positive cases are – or were – within the football program. The athletics department has chosen not to release more specific statistics on the COVID-19 test results, more than what the university as a whole offers.
The state of Ohio will currently begin spring football drills on March 19th. If the Buckeyes can get back to work in a week, they will return to the Woody Hayes Athletics Center on March 16 and give them three days in the facility before opening camp at the end of the week.