University of Michigan Athletics pauses department-wide activities

University of Michigan Athletics pauses department-wide activities

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Under a decision by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) taken on Saturday (January 23), the University of Michigan Athletic Department will immediately stop athletic activities in all sports, including games, teams and training sessions until further notice and up to 14 days.

Although UM has worked diligently on testing and reporting within state guidelines and the Big Ten Conference, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is demanding a more aggressive strategy for this variant B.1.1.7, which exceeds program efforts current projected around the standard virus shape.

The mandate follows positive test results for SAR-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 variant virus infections from various individuals linked to the UM Athletics Department through its diligent testing charter. Variant B.1.1.7 is believed to be approximately 50 percent more transmissible than the standard form of the virus, leading to faster spread of the virus, potentially greater number of cases and additional hospitalizations and deaths. Therefore, a break from all athletic activities and the closure of all UM sports facilities are being taken to strengthen public health intervention. Team members (student-athletes, coaches and team officials) must isolate / quarantine immediately from January 23 until further notice and up to 14 days (February 7).

“Canceling competitions is never something we want to do, but with so many unknowns about this variant of COVID-19, we must do everything we can to minimize the spread among student-athletes, coaches, staff and to student-athletes from other schools” , said Warde Manuel, Donald R. Shepherd Athletics Director.

University public health officials are working closely with the Washtenaw County Department of Health and the Michigan Department of Human Health Services on additional mitigation strategies to address the COVID-19 B.1.1.7 variant in the university community . The university will be carefully considering additional mitigation measures. There are many unknowns that remain under investigation by UM, local and state public health officials.

No determination was made on how the break could affect games scheduled after February 7.