The Colorado State football team did not record any positive COVID-19 cases through its first round of testing with the Rams back in Fort Collins for voluntary workouts, athletic director Joe Parker said.
CSU tested three main groups in June that arrived on campus in different phases: returning players who stayed in Colorado during the coronavirus pandemic, returning players traveling from out-of-state and first-year players in the program.
CSU has tested more than 125 student-athletes across multiple sports with zero positive results, the school announced.
“It brings a smile to your face, but you know the next group of students who comes back in can change those outcomes entirely,” Parker said. “You’ve got to be diligent. We’ve been working with an education program and social normalizing program, just to get the students to understand that life is different now. They’ve got to monitor their behavior, control where they’re at, who they’re exposed to, and what they’re doing. It’s an ongoing process.”
Parker added that voluntary Rams football workouts have yet to take place indoors with the school utilizing outdoor space in and around Canvas Stadium.
CSU began its phased approach this week of returning men’s basketball and volleyball teams to Fort Collins. However, several international student-athletes are still working to come back. Parker said CSU is prepared when or if it does receive a positive test with safety protocols that include self-quarantine and contact tracing.
The Rams have also joined a nationwide push to encourage sports fans to wear masks to reduce community outbreak risks that could ultimately derail the college football season.
“What we’re seeing is the value in wearing masks,” said Terry DeZeeuw, senior CSU associate athletic director for health and performance. “As the pandemic has progressed, I think you’ve seen the evolution of the importance of it. It’s something that’s been built into our policy since Day 1. … Anytime they’re reporting into our facilities in proximity with other individuals, we expect masks, and that’s going to be the culture we expect with all athletics. As you build out plans for what fall sports will look like, that will become part of the norm.”
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