As Florida football operations have now been paused for 10 days due to an outbreak of COVID-19 that has seen 25 players test positive since Oct. 12, Athletic Director Scott Stricklin put out a statement addressing the situation.
Stricklin said that several players were suffering from mild symptoms but traveled to College Station, Tex., with the team for its game against Texas A&M on Oct. 10. Several of those players apparently tested positive on Sunday after the team returned to Gainesville.
“Following our last road trip, we have evaluated all phases of team travel to better understand how we can enhance the safety and health protocols,” he said. “It’s believed that a couple of individuals who just a day before the trip had tested negative for COVID through the SEC testing protocol, developed mild symptoms that they attributed to allergies or the common cold, and then boarded the team plane on that Friday. Those same individuals subsequently tested positive for COVID that Sunday of that week.”
Gators AD @ScottStricklin with an update on the recent @GatorsFB COVID cases. pic.twitter.com/SPObGghH1J
— Florida Gators (@FloridaGators) October 23, 2020
Stricklin said that as a result, the team began testing daily. After officially reporting five new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, multiple reports confirmed that the actual number of positive tests at that time was 19. That day, the UAA suspended all football activities.
“Of course, our staff immediately began testing daily, and as more positive cases developed, all team activities were paused, effective Oct. 13,” Stricklin said. “All staff and players on the Texas A&M trip were instructed to quarantine and participate in daily testing through Oct. 26, and that continues.”
The most recent testing update, released on Tuesday with information as of Monday, showed that a total of 25 players have tested positive since the UAA initially announced five last week. Stricklin said that before any of these players return, they will undergo extensive health screenings, including a cardiac evaluation.
There is some evidence that COVID-19 can lead to long-term heart problems, including diseases such as myocarditis, which factored into the Big Ten’s decision to postpone the start of the season.
“Before our student-athletes who are infected return to activity, they will complete a cardiac evaluation that includes a troponin level test, an electrocardiogram and an echocardiogram,” Stricklin said. “The student-athletes will also have a complete medical evaluation by UF Health physicians.”
In spite of the last week’s events, Stricklin said he’s confident that the program is prepared to take care of student-athletes and that they are in a safe environment.
“The Gators sports health staff continues with telehealth with our players and staff, and our nutrition staff has been delivering food as well to student-athletes,” he said. “Likewise, our academic advising unit continues to assist our student-athletes virtually… We remain hopeful that through our experts at UF Health and our sports health staff, along with the guidance from the SEC medical task force, Gators student-athletes are in the safest environment possible as they pursue their academic and athletic goals.”
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