The University of Florida Athletic Association released updated COVID-19 testing data for student-athletes, and the last week has brought an increase in cases both within the athletic department at large and the football program specifically.
When data was last released on Wednesday, there had been seven total positive cases in the month of September. In the last six days, the athletic department has seen 61 new cases from 337 new tests.
Of those cases, 31 are on the lacrosse team and 15 are on the baseball team. Both programs have now paused all activities.
This comes a day after the soccer team postponed its season opener due to three positive cases.
UF releases new COVID testing data for student athletes.
There have been 61 total positive results this week within the athletic department and six within the football program. pic.twitter.com/D0UhVCt93s
— Tyler Nettuno (@TylerNettuno) September 15, 2020
The football program has seen its share of cases as well, though not to the same degree as other programs. It has conducted 129 tests in the last six days, returning six positives. On Wednesday, there had been just one case on the team this month.
Since players returned on May 26, the UF football team has seen 28 total positive cases. It has, however, managed to keep the positive test rate relatively low this month at just three percent.
The athletic department as a whole is in a much worse spot. Since the beginning of this month, the total positive test rate at Florida has been 13 percent.
While the steps the football program has taken to contain the spread of the virus seems to be at least partially working, other programs at the school appear to be struggling much more to limit outbreaks, and it’s unclear what that could mean for the viability of non-football sports this year.
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