PRESS RELEASE
COLLEGE PARK, Md. — Under the guidance and advice from university medical staff, Maryland Athletics has canceled Saturday’s scheduled football game against Michigan State. The game will not be rescheduled. All team training activities have been paused.
Per Big Ten Conference protocols, all football student-athletes and football staff continue to undergo daily antigen testing. Between December 10-16, 15 student-athletes have tested positive for COVID-19, resulting in a Big Ten test positivity rate of 2.4%. Antigen tests conducted this morning resulted in three more presumptive positives (confirmatory PCR tests are pending). There were six positive cases among staff over that same time period, resulting in a population positivity rate of 12.4%. All positive individuals are now in designated isolation spaces, per health protocols.
“This has been a season of promise and of adversity,” said Head Coach Michael Locksley. “Our team has demonstrated a tremendous work ethic, resolve and displayed Maryland pride throughout this unique season. We have battled two opponents each week, the team we matched up with on the field and COVID. Together, we experienced tremendous highs and we are deeply disappointed that we will not be able to test ourselves on the field against Michigan State.”
Maryland Athletics COVID-19 Testing
Maryland Athletics, as part of a gradual, phased approach to athletic training and competition, is working with the University Health Center to conduct regular COVID-19 testing. In preparation for this ongoing testing period, we worked with State, county and university health officials to develop appropriate protocols in the event of positive test results, including education, contact identification and tracing, and self-isolation.
Between November 10 and December 15, 2020, the University Health Center conducted 2,340 on-campus screening tests for student-athletes. A total of 36 student-athletes have tested positive.
Cumulative results of all athletics testing to date:
- 7,671 tests
- 154 positive results
