One in five college football games was canceled this season due to concerns about the coronavirus
A new study found that student-athletes who had COVID-19 are likely to suffer heart damage after fighting the deadly virus.
Fox 2 reported, researchers at The Ohio State University shared data that highlighted the effects of coronavirus on long-term health of student athletes. According to the data, more than two dozen athletes who had previously tested positive for COVID-19 were included in the study. Of these athletes, more than 30% had damage to the cellular heart. 15% of student athletes surveyed showed signs of cardiac inflammation caused by myocarditis.
Read more: Michigan outbreak of COVID-19 cancels game against Ohio state
The 26 Ohio State University athletes included were monitored and the results obtained using a process known as cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR).
“Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging has the potential to identify a high-risk cohort for adverse outcomes and may, more importantly, stratify the risk of athletes for safe participation,” wrote the study authors according to Fox 2. “Recent studies have raised concerns about myocardial inflammation after recovery from coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19), even in asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic patients.”
The Big Ten Conference, the athletic division in which OSU plays, attempted to cancel the 2020-2021 football season due to the coronavirus pandemic. Although some agreed, many student-athletes, parents and school officials insisted on continuing the season. theGrio reported the Buckeye starting quarterback Justin Fields helped lead the charge against canceling football with a petition.
“We, the Big Ten football players, along with college football fans and supporters, request that the Big Ten Conference immediately restore the 2020 football season,” says the petition. The players finally made it to a season on October 24, several weeks after their intended start date.
According USA today, locations with college football teams have seen an increase in coronavirus cases since the start of the season in several divisions. The media reported in mid-November “the counties where the Power Five schools are located have seen an even greater increase in COVID-19 cases than the national average, with communities in the Big Ten and Big 12 showing the most dramatic increases seven-day averages of new daily cases per 100,000 residents. “
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The New York Times reported that one in five college football games has been canceled this season so far due to concerns about the coronavirus, according to NCAA data. The rapid spread of the coronavirus is not preventing the organization from entering the basketball season. According to the vehicle, the NCAA is advising athletes and staff to take the COVID-19 test at least three times a week and athletes are welcome to cancel the season in exchange for a year of extra scholarship.
The Ivy League was the first division 1 conference to cancel winter sports. According to a press release, the Ivy League Council of Presidents made the decision.
“The unanimous decisions of the Ivy League Council of Presidents follow an extensive consideration of options and strategies to mitigate the transmission of the COVID-19 virus, an analysis of the current rising rates of COVID-19 – locally, regionally and nationally – and the resulting need to continue campus policies related to travel, group size and campus visitors that protect the campus and the community, ”noted the statement.
For some student-athletes, however, it may be too late. theGrio reported Florida Gators basketball player Keyontae Johnson passed out during a game and was later diagnosed with myocarditis. Johnson tested positive for coronavirus in the early summer, as did other members of his team.
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