University of Michigan Athletics enters a broad activity department

University of Michigan Athletics enters a broad activity department

ANN ARBOR, Mich. According to a decision by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) taken on Saturday (January 23), the University of Michigan’s athletics department will immediately suspend athletic activities in all sports, including games, team and individual training sessions, until further notice and up to 14 days.

While UM has worked closely on testing and reporting in the guidelines of the State and Big Ten Conference, the Department of Health and Human Services in Michigan calls for a more aggressive strategy for this B.1.1.7 variant, which the current exceeds program attempts designed according to the standard form. of the virus.

The mandate follows positive test results for the SAR-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 virus infections of several individuals linked to the UM athletics department through its diligent test regiment. The B.1.1.7 variant is thought to be about 50 percent more transmissible than the standard form of the virus, leading to faster spread of the virus, potentially increased number of cases, and additional hospitalizations and deaths. Therefore, a break from all athletics activities and the closure of all UM athletics facilities is taken to strengthen public health intervention. Team members (student-athletes, coaches and team staff) must immediately set aside / quarantine from 23 January until further notice and up to 14 days (7 February).

“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, the director of athletics of Donald R. Shepherd.

University public health officials are working closely with the Washtenaw County Health Department and Michigan Department of Human Health Services 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.