When Penn State announced the phased return of athletes, the university said students are required to practice safety measures, including wearing face masks in public, observing social distancing and avoiding large groups.
Penn State began bringing athletes back to campus Monday, starting with 75 football players. Some players were among the participants in a “Justice for Black Lives” rally held Sunday in State College.
The university did not address specific questions about whether participating in Sunday’s rally raised concerns or ran counter to its protocols.
Penn State football players were among those participating in a demonstration for black rights and against police brutality.
In an email, Penn State Athletics said: “Our student-athletes are providing a daily health screening questionnaire, which includes information regarding their activities.”
The statement goes on to say that if athletes “need to follow a different regimen, those decisions will be guided by medical experts.”
Other universities are struggling with similar situations. Football players at Auburn and Alabama tested positive for COVID-19 after returning to campus. And a player on Oklahoma State’s team tweeted last week that he tested positive.
