For the first time in this Covid-19 era, the University of Oregon football program has confirmed five people within the program have tested positive on Saturday.
The news came Saturday evening prior to Coach Mario Cristobal’s scheduled media briefing which took place at 7:30 pm.
According to the release and Cristobal himself, five people within the program tested positive sometime on Saturday using the Quidel antigen protocol testing system that’s currently in place. Per the team protocol, all players and staff are tested daily.
OREGON FOOTBALL STATEMENT
“Out of extreme caution, tonight’s Oregon football practice inside Autzen Stadium was canceled due to five positive antigen tests within the program. These are the first positive tests within the football program since daily testing began. All five are asymptomatic, in isolation and being monitored by medical staff.
The health and safety of our student-athletes is and will continue to be our top priority. Local health authorities have been notified and contact tracing is in process.“
Within the written statement there was no confirmation whether the positive tests were players, staff, or both. If a person tests positive via an antigen test but negative on a follow-up PCR test, they are viewed as a net negative in the eyes of Lane County Public Health and Oregon Health Authority. How the Pac-12 responds to the news is a different matter and will be discussed internally.
Cristobal refrained from taking questions from the media during his scheduled briefing but he did make a statement confirming the positive tests.
MARIO CRISTOBAL SATURDAY STATEMENT