Penn State Records No Positive Tests for COVID-19

A total of 102 athletes have been tested since they began returning in early June, Athletic Director Sandy Barbour said.

Penn State has had no student-athletes test positive for the virus that causes COVID-19 during the first three weeks of voluntary workouts, athletic director Sandy Barbour said Wednesday.

During a video call with reporters, Barbour said that 102 student-athletes across six sports, including football, were tested through June 30. Athletes will continue to be tested as they return, and results will be announced every two weeks, Barbour said.

The tests do not include 60-70 conducted this week on athletes from the men and women's soccer teams and the women's volleyball team, Barbour said. She added that anyone who might test positive would be isolated immediately from their teams and begin a contract-tracing process.

Student-athletes are tested upon arrival for voluntary workouts and tested again if they show symptoms, Barbour said. She praised Penn State's medical staff for its work not only for preparing the workout environments but also in educating athletes about the expectations of their return.

"Our six teams that are back have been so disciplined," Barbour said. "There's been a glitch here or there, which is where the protocols come in. ... I've been really impressed with our student-athletes and their dedication to this, their understanding of it, their understanding of how important it is.

"First and foremost is their health, their teammates' health, the community's health, but it's also the ability to potentially play the sport they love. ... I take my hat off to them for the seriousness with which they've applied this. I do think some of that is directly attributable to the amount of education they've been provided the last couple weeks."

Barbour also said that Penn State has not asked students to sign a waiver protecting the university from liability if they contract COVID-19. Athletes and staff are asked to sign what Barbour called a "One Team Pledge" acknowledging that they will follow protocols established for wearing masks and social distancing.

The university will ask all students to sign a pledge that they will adhere to basic public health expectations, including wearing masks on campus. 

Penn State began its phased return of student-athletes June 8 with football players, who started voluntary workouts the following week. Athletes from the men and women's basketball teams returned in Phase II, with the men and women's soccer and women's volleyball teams starting Phase III on June 29.

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