Three UL athletes test positive for coronavirus; seven others quarantined

Tim Buckley, The Advertiser, June 20, 2020

Ten UL student-athletes from multiple sports programs are in quarantine, including three who have tested positive for coronavirus COVID-19, university officials said after being asked Saturday night.

Of the three who tested positive, according to a release from the school’s office of communications and marketing, “one is isolating on campus” and “two are isolating off campus.”

The three have not been identified by the school and the university has not specified whether or not they are asymptomatic. It is also is not known if they contracted the virus while on campus or elsewhere.

“The isolation period for each is 14 days to reduce the possibility of transmission to others,” according to the UL statement.

“Public health officials,” the statement added, “have been in touch with other members of the university community, who may have had direct contact with the affected students.”

The UL release comes on the heels of reports Saturday that at least 30 LSU football players in quarantine.

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UL did not specify how many of its 10 quarantined student-athletes are football players.

Members of the school’s football program returned to campus to voluntary workouts earlier this month.

Men’s and women’s basketball players are scheduled to report in early July and baseball and softball players in early August.

UL previously said it would not test all of its returning student-athletes, but instead only those who are symptomatic, have been exposed to the virus and/or are coming from a hot zone.

The coronavirus pandemic already is responsible for more than 120,000 deaths nationwide.

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The 10 in quarantine, according to UL, “are being asked to follow guidance from the Louisiana Department of Health, which is to self-quarantine, monitor their own health for 14 days, and seek medical care should they develop symptoms.”

Once the diagnoses were made, the school said in its release, the university’s “COVID-19 Student Affairs Response Team activated protocols that outline student care while also protecting the health and safety of the campus community as a whole.

“Student Health Services and the Office of the Dean of Students, in cooperation with the Louisiana Department of Health, established these protocols in March as the number of COVID-19 cases grew in the state and region.”

Those guidelines allow impacted student residents to choose whether they will isolate on campus or elsewhere, and those who stay on campus receive written instructions and items to assist them in caring for themselves while in isolation or in quarantine.

Additionally, a member of the response team will contact the student twice daily and deliver three meals to their door each day.

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The protocols require affected students to:

remain in their rooms at all times for a minimum 14-day isolation period;
monitor symptoms, and contact UL Student Health Services if their symptoms worsen; and
continue to practice good personal hygiene and keep their surroundings clean.

At the end of 14-day period, the response team and a student health services representative consults with health officials before the student is permitted to leave isolation.

Moreover, no visitors are permitted in an on-campus residence where a student was isolated until it is professionally cleaned.

UL’s football players are required to wear face masks when they enter athletic facilities and are in common areas, have daily temperature checks and fill out daily health questionnaires.

Ragin’ Cajuns coach Billy Napier previously suggested he was satisfied with the process and safety precautions UL had in place.

The coronavirus pandemic shut down American sports for about three months starting mid-March, including and college athletes are just starting to return to campus this month.

UL’s baseball and softball seasons were cut short, and the football team lost 12 of its 15 spring practices including its annual spring game.

UL is scheduled to open its football season Sept. vs. McNeese at Cajun Field, but it remains to be seen how man fans will permitted in the stands.

Fellow Sun Belt Conference members Arkansas State and Texas State both reportedly have had student-athletes test positive this month as well.

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Click here for photos of Ragin’ Cajuns football players on the first day of voluntary workouts posted on the Daily Advertiser, June 10, 2020.