URI Football Team In Quarantine Following 2 Coronavirus Cases

KINGSTON, RI — The University of Rhode Island football team is in quarantine and all related activities are on hold for the next two weeks after two cases were confirmed in connection with the team. One of the cases was in a student, and the other in a faculty member, the university said.

"Our highest priority is the health and well-being of the student-athletes, everyone associated with our programs and the overall campus community," Director of Athletics Thorr Bjorn said. "We will take an abundance of caution in effort to limit the possibility of spread."

Both cases were reported on Saturday, at which point all team-related activities were immediately halted. The Rhode Island Department of Health conducted contact tracing, and determined that the entire team, as well as some staff members, must quarantine for two weeks.

According to a statement from URI, fall sports have slowly ramped up throughout the fall semester, utilizing pods "in accordance with state and University guidelines."

The two cases come only a few days after URI announced that mandatory coronavirus testing of students, both living on- and off-campus, will continue throughout the fall semester. Faculty and staff, meanwhile, are encouraged to get tested frequently, especially if they are frequently on campus.

According to URI, the overall percent positive rate at the university remains below 1 percent.