According to a release from the Ohio State athletic department, the university has resumed on-campus voluntary workouts for football and other sports as of today.
“Our Buckeyes are excited to be headed into a new school year and were disappointed last week when we had to temporarily suspend training,” athletic direct Gene Smith said in the statement. “These young people come from across the nation and the world to be part of our Ohio State family, and we do everything we can to create a safe, healthy environment so that they have a chance to study and compete. Our medical team will continue to evaluate, and we will share decisions as we move forward.”
On a go-forward basis, athletes will be tested routinely and training decisions will continue to be re-evaluated by medical staff to protect the health and safety of students. A strict set of protocols will also be in place requiring physical distancing, masks, hygiene and cleaning procedures.
The voluntary workouts were put on pause as a result of a round of testing done on July 7. The exact number of positives for COVID-19 were not made publicly known by the university, but Letterman Row has cited sources putting the number in the single digits.
The decision to reopen workouts on campus was a result of the latest round of testing completed on Monday. Teams with student-athletes on campus taking part in training activities are men’s and women’s basketball, field hockey, football, men’s and women’s soccer and women’s volleyball.
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