NC State Announces Temporary Pause to Athletic Activities

An identified cluster of COVID-19 cases on campus has led NC State officials to suspend their school's athletic activities, including preseason football practice

NC State has temporarily paused all athletics-related activities due to an identified cluster within its programs. It is not known whether the confirmed COVID-19 cases involve athletes, coaches or support personnel or which sport or sports are involved.

“Based on the information available to us, we are making the necessary and swift decision to pause athletic-related activities until we have additional information,” athletic director Boo Corrigan said in a statement issued Monday afternoon. “We will continue to work with all appropriate parties to evaluate the most responsible path moving forward and will provide further details when available.” 

Corrigan's statement emphasized that the athletic department will continue to follow all established protocols in consultation with campus and local health officials. At the same time, though, the suspension of athletic activities emphasized that even when taking precautions, the virus has the potential to strike and spread anywhere at anytime.

Monday's news came on the day State's switch to online classes only went into effect. 

The reported cluster "associated with NC State athletics" includes 27 positive cases, though not all are athletes. NC State safety has reported two other new COVID-19 clusters involving students -- one with nine positive cases at Carroll Residence Hall and another at an off-campus apartment with five cases.

According to figures provided by senior associate athletic director Fred Demarest, the Wolfpack's athletic department has conducted 2,053 tests to athletes, coaches and staff with 30 total positives (1.46 pct). That figure includes 693 new tests from last reporting with 22 new positives.

The suspension of athletic activities comes just 19 days before the Wolfpack's scheduled football opener at Virginia Tech on Sept. 12.

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