Positive Coronavirus Test Halts Northwestern Football: Report

EVANSTON, IL — The Northwestern University football team halted its workouts for at least two days Monday after one of its players tested positive for the coronavirus. Following the test, an unknown number of players were placed in quarantine, where they must remain until they can be tested for the COVID-19 virus.

The team will not hold workouts on Monday or Tuesday, according to Assistant Athletic Director Paul Kennedy.

"Northwestern football has paused workouts, out of an abundance of caution, following a positive COVID-19 test result," Kennedy said. "During this time medical staff will implement the University’s rigorous contact tracing and quarantine protocols to protect the health and safety of student-athletes, coaches and staff."

Friday is the first day when contact practice will be allowed under NCAA rules. Big Ten sources say a college football season appears increasingly unlikely, the Chicago Tribune reported.

The university website listing self-reported coronavirus cases and positive test results listed a single new case among students for the week of July 24 to July 30, the day before the team's last workout.