Eight Penn State athletes have tested positive for COVID-19, and results are pending on another 66, according to the athletics department.
In a statement, Athletics said as of July 24, it has conducted a total of 466 COVID-19 tests.
University athletes have been going back to campus for summer training. At the same time, the university is moving ahead with plans to return to on-campus classes in the fall.
“The health and safety of our student-athletes, coaches, staff and the broader community are of the utmost importance,” a statement from Athletics says.
Athletics said those who test positive are being put in isolation for 14 days and will be retested. And, Athletics said contact tracing procedures are being implemented, along with quarantining and testing those who might have been exposed.
“We expect our student-athletes to follow CDC guidelines for limiting the spread of COVID-19, including wearing masks, practicing social distancing, washing their hands regularly and not gathering in large groups,” the statement from Athletics says.
Athletics Director Sandy Barbour said they will release the testing results of athletes every two weeks during the summer.
As of Wednesday, there were 370 confirmed and probable cases of the coronavirus in Centre County and 110,218 cases statewide. Because of a recent spike in cases, Mount Nittany Health contacted the state Department of Health to investigate.
Department spokesman Nate Wardle said Wednesday that “the Pennsylvania Department of Health has determined a number of the positive test results were not valid. We are reviewing those tests, retesting, and will change our data (as needed) to reflect the results of these tests in the near future.”
