With the start of winter sports on the horizon, the ACC has updated its policies for how student-athletes participating in winter sports will be tested for COVID-19 throughout the season.
The report from the ACC’s Medical Advisory Group specifically addresses “enhanced safety standards and testing measures in basketball, wrestling and low transmission risk sports.”
It calls for all team members and those in close contact with the teams in men’s and women’s basketball and wrestling to be tested three times each week on non-consecutive days. One molecular (PCR) test must be administered within three days of the first test of the week.
Visiting teams must have results within three days prior to competition before the team travels. Tests will also be administered within 48 hours of the conclusion of a game.
Basketball officials will be required to test three times per week and will undergo symptom and temperature checks upon arriving at competition sites. Any personnel seated at the scorer’s table must undergo similar checks and will wear face coverings at all times.
In addition, the report provided updates on the general public at basketball and other indoor sports competitions. There must be a minimum of 15 feet separating the general public and the areas on the court occupied by essential personnel (team bench, scorer’s table, etc.) and individuals with access to the 15-foot perimeter must meet health and safety standards.
While UNC is able to host a limited number of fans at Kenan Stadium for college football games, there has been no update from North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper on fan attendance for basketball season.
Finally, every student-athlete who tests positive for COVID-19 will undergo a cardiac evaluation that includes an electrocardiogram, a troponin test, and an echocardiogram before a phased return to exercise and competition.
“The ACC’s Medical Advisory Group, in conjunction with our campus administrators and student-athletes, continues to do outstanding work to provide a safe environment in which our teams can compete,” said ACC commissioner John Swofford. “I applaud all of our student-athletes as they continue to persevere through these challenging times.”
Several of UNC’s games this fall have been canceled or postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. UNC’s football game against Charlotte was canceled after several members of 49ers were placed in quarantine. Women’s soccer and volleyball also saw their games against Virginia canceled and postponed respectively after the Cavaliers could not field teams due to COVID-19 and injuries.
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