OXFORD — All Miami University student-athletes who have returned to Oxford, and any coaches and staff who were in contact with them, are being quarantined on the order of the Butler County General Health District.
The university learned that as of Monday, 27 student-athletes from various teams tested positive for COVID-19, the county health district said in a statement.
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Many, but not all, had attended an off-campus social gathering, over a week ago.
The Butler County General Health District issued the blanket quarantine order to ensure no student-athletes would be missed through the normal method of contact tracing.
“Miami University is fully supportive of and cooperating with the Butler County General Health District. We have worked with them throughout the pandemic to help safeguard the health of our students, faculty, staff and communities,” university President Gregory Crawford said.
County Health Commissioner Jennifer Bailer said, “As we know, the COVID-19 virus can spread quickly between people and infect groups of people in a hurry. This disease is serious. In young adults it is often mild, but has the potential to become critical for those with underlying disease or other risk factors.
“One of the main functions of public health is to identify persons who have been in contact with COVID-19 cases as quickly as possible and ask them to quarantine for 14 days and monitor themselves for symptoms. This helps in preventing the disease to spread any further,” she said.
Athletics Director David Sayler said, “My concern for the health of all of our student-athletes is paramount. I am disappointed that poor judgment has led to this quarantine order and put in jeopardy our efforts to have our teams study and practice together.”
The Mid-American Conference announced Aug. 8 that all fall sports would be postponed because of concerns related to COVID-19. Miami University began its fall semester Aug. 17 with all undergraduate courses being offered remotely. Move-in for incoming first-year students is scheduled for the week of Sept. 14, with face-to-face instruction planned to resume Sept. 21.
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