Michigan’s athletic department is shutting down “until further notice” and for up to two weeks due to confirmed cases of the B.1.1.7 COVID-19 variant, the department announced Saturday night.
The shutdown will affect all sports, including sports that are currently in season like men’s and women’s basketball, ice hockey and women’s volleyball. The pause, a decision made by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, will include the temporary stoppage of both games and training. The presence of the COVID-19 variant was discovered in testing and found in “several individuals linked to the U-M Athletic Department.”
The student journalists at the Michigan Daily were the first to report the athletic department’s impending shutdown.
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The pause will start on Sunday, the source told the Free Press. The source was speaking on the condition of anonymity because they weren’t cleared to discuss the matter with the media.
There are five cases now confirmed with B.1.1.7, the highly contagious COVID variant, in Washtenaw County, Michigan.
The new coronavirus variant transmits more easily and can lead to more positive cases, the health department said.
“We are watching this situation as closely as possible,” said Dr. Juan Luis Marquez, medical director of the Washtenaw County Health Department. “And we ask everyone to continue to do everything they can to prevent transmission — mask, distance, avoid crowds or gatherings, clean your hands frequently, and follow isolation or quarantine guidance carefully.”
The B.1.1.7 variant is not more deadly and is not likely to make people more severely sick than other variants of coronavirus. But it is 1.5 times more transmissible, meaning it spreads about 50% faster than other strains of the virus circulating in Michigan.
“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 the student-athletes at other schools,” Michigan AD Warde Manuel said in the school’s statement.
Late Friday night, the Michigan athletic department reported it had 22 COVID-positive cases during the week of Jan. 16 to Jan. 22.
Contact Orion Sang at osang@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @orion_sang.
Jan. 22: Michigan forward Brandon Johns Jr. (23) goes for a rebound against Purdue center Zach Edey.
Jan. 21: Penn State’s Izaiah Brockington (12) is fouled by Rutgers’ Oskar Palmquist (1) during the second half at Bryce Jordan Center. Penn State defeated Rutgers, 75-67.
Jan. 19: Florida’s Omar Payne (5) blocks a shot by Tennessee’s Victor Bailey Jr. during the second half at Billy Donovan Court at Exactech Arena. Florida won the game, 75-49.
Jan. 18: Kansas’ Mitch Lightfoot (44) and Baylor’s Jared Butler (12) look to grab the loose ball during the second half at Ferrell Center. Baylor won the game, 77-69.
Jan. 17: Penn State’s Seth Lundy (1) is under pressure from Purdue’s Brandon Newman (5), Trevion Williams (50) and Mason Gillis (0) during the second half of the game at Mackey Arena. Purdue won the game, 80-72.
Jan. 16: Baylor guard Davion Mitchell (45) passes the ball amid a swarm a players during the Bears’ 68-60 win over Texas Tech at United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock, Texas.
Jan. 15: Wisconsin forward Aleem Ford (2) takes the ball to the hoop as Rutgers guard Paul Mulcahy (4) tries to defend during the first half at Rutgers Athletic Center. No. 9 Wisconsin beat the Scarlet Knights 60-54.
Jan. 14: Pepperdine guard Andre Ball (10) and Gonzaga guard Andrew Nembhard (3) chase down a ball in the first half at McCarthey Athletic Center. Top-ranked Gonzaga won 95-70.
Jan. 13: LSU’s Trendon Watford (2) shoots the ball over Arkansas’ JD Notae during the second half at Pete Maravich Assembly Center. LSU won the game, 92-76.
Jan. 12: Michigan’s Isaiah Livers (2) passes the ball against Wisconsin Badgers in the first half at Crisler Center. Michigan won the game, 77-54.
Jan. 11: Colorado’s Maddox Daniels controls the ball against Utah in the second half at Jon M. Huntsman Center. Colorado won the game, 65-58.
Jan. 10: Maryland’s Galin Smith (center) attempts to grab a rebound against Illinois ‘s Da’Monte Williams (behind, center), Andre Curbelo (5), and Ayo Dosunmu (11) during the second half at the State Farm Center. Maryland won the game, 66-63.
Jan. 9: St. John’s guard Dylan Addae-Wusu (5) drives on Creighton’s Ryan Kalkbrenner in the second half at CHI Health Center Omaha. Creighton won the game, 97-79.
Jan. 8: Purdue forward Trevion Williams (50) celebrates with teammates after making the game-winning basket against Michigan State.
Jan. 7: Maryland guard Darryl Morsell, right, and Iowa center Luka Garza battle for a loose ball.
Jan. 6: Minnesota’s Brandon Johnson (23) is defended by Michigan’s Brandon Johns Jr. (23) in the second half at Crisler Center. Michigan won the game, 82-57.
Jan. 5: Clemson’s Aamir Simms (left) and North Carolina State’s Shakeel Moore reach for a loose ball during the first half at Littlejohn Coliseum. Clemson won the game, 74-70.
Jan. 4: Maryland’s Donta Scott grabs a rebound over Indiana’s Rob Phinisee (10) in the first half at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. Indiana won the game, 63-55.
Jan. 2: Boston College guard Demarr Langford Jr. (15) defends against Louisville forward Jae’Lyn Withers.
Jan. 2: Iowa State guard Rasir Bolton is hit by Baylor’s Jared Butler.
Dec. 31: UCLA’s Chris Smith (5) moves in for a basket against Utah at Pauley Pavilion. UCLA won the game, 72-70.
Dec. 30: Connecticut’s James Bouknight (2) shoots against DePaul at Harry A. Gampel Pavilion. UConn won the game, 82-61.
Dec. 29: Baylor guard Adam Flagler reacts after he’s penalized for hanging on the rim during a dunk against Central Arkansas.
Dec, 28: Wisconsin guard Brad Davison shoots the ball against Maryland forward Galin Smith.
Dec. 28: Minnesota forward Brandon Johnson (23) and Michigan State forward Thomas Kithier (15) fight for the ball.
Dec. 26: Gonzaga forward Drew Timme is fouled by Virginia Cavaliers forward Jay Huff.
Dec. 25: Spectators in Christmas attire watch the Purdue Boilermakers take on the Maryland Terrapins at Mackey Arena in West Lafayette, Indiana. Purdue held on for a 73-70 win.
Dec. 25: Wisconsin guard Brad Davison (34) grabs the rebound in front of three Michigan State players as the Badgers beat the Spartans to snap a 12-game losing streak in East Lansing, Michigan.
Dec. 25: Michigan head coach Juwan Howard points to his team during the Wolverines’ 80-69 win over the Nebraska Cornhuskers.
Dec. 22: Iowa center Luka Garza is fouled by Purdue guard Brandon Newman, right, after grabbing a rebound.
Dec. 22: Maryland’s Hakim Hart shoots as La Salle Explorers guard Anwar Gill defends.
Dec. 22: Louisville head coach Chris Mack reacts on the sidelines during the second half against Pittsburgh.
Dec. 21: Baylor guard Jared Butler strips the ball from Arkansas-Pine Bluff guard Dequan Morris.
Dec. 20: Xavier celebrates Adam Kunkel’s shot as time expired against Marquette at the Cintas Center.
Dec. 16: Cincinnati’s Tari Eason (13) reaches for a rebound as South Florida’s Alexis Yetna (10) pulls down the ball at Fifth Third Arena in Cincinnati. South Florida won the game, 74-71.
Dec. 15: Utah Valley’s Jordan Brinson (23) drives to the hoop against Utah’s Branden Carlson at the Jon M. Huntsman Center. Utah won the game, 75-67.
Dec. 14: Marquette’s Theo John fights for a loose ball against Creighton’s Damien Jefferson (23) and Denzel Mahoney (bottom) at CHI Health Center Omaha. Marquette won the game, 89-84.
Dec. 13: Iowa’s Keegan Murray (15) blocks the shot of Northern Illinois’ Anthony Crump at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Iowa won the game, 106-53.
Dec. 12: Missouri forward Kobe Brown grabs a loose ball against Illinois guard Ayo Dosunmu.
Dec. 12: Alabama forward Jordan Bruner (2) outreaches Clemson forward Aamir Simms for a rebound.
Dec. 11: Creighton forward Christian Bishop dunks against Nebraska.
Dec. 11: Iowa center Luka Garza celebrates his 3-pointer. He had 34 points in 17 minutes against Iowa State.
Dec. 9: Clemson guard John Newman III watches as Maryland guard Darryl Morsell loses the ball.
Dec. 8: Kansas forward Jalen Wilson (10) celebrates after scoring against Creighton at Allen Fieldhouse. Kansas won the game, 73-72.
Dec. 8: Idaho State guard Robert Ford III (20) gets off a pass chasing a loose ball against Utah at the Jon M. Huntsman Center. Utah won the game, 75-59.
Dec. 6: San Diego State Aztecs guard Jordan Schakel (left) dribbles the ball while defended by Pepperdine Waves guard Colbey Ross at Viejas Arena.
Dec. 6: Xavier Musketeers guard Colby Jones (3) goes up for a shot against the Cincinnati Bearcats at Fifth Third Arena. Xavier won the game, 77-69.
Dec. 6: Oklahoma Sooners guard Alondes Williams (15) dives for a loose ball against the TCU Horned Frogs at Ed and Rae Schollmaier Arena. Oklahoma won the game, 82-78.
Dec. 5: Northern Illinois Huskies guard Trendon Hankerson (left) fouls Pittsburgh Panthers guard Xavier Johnson on his way to the basket during the first half at the Petersen Events Center. Pitt won the game, 89-59.
Dec. 4: Purdue center Zach Edey dunks the ball while Valparaisoforward Mileek McMillan (22) defends in the second half at Mackey Arena.
Dec. 4: Michigan State forward Gabe Brown drives to the basket against Detroit guard Dwayne Rose Jr. during the second half at the Jack Breslin Student Events Center.
Dec. 3: Connecticut forward Isaiah Whaley (5) throws down the one-handed slam against USC during the Legends Classic.
Dec. 3: Utah forward Mikael Jantunen, left, and Washington forward Nate Roberts battle for the ball
Dec. 3: Syracuse forward Robert Braswell tries to save a ball from going out of bounds as Niagara guard Tahjae Hill defends.
Dec. 2: Penn State guard Jamari Wheeler collides with Virginia Commonwealth guard Adrian Baldwin Jr. on a drive to the basket during the first half at the Bryce Jordan Center.
Dec. 2: Missouri guards Drew Buggs (2) and Xavier Pinson (1) reach for a loose ball against Oregon forward Eugene Omoruyi (2) in the first half at CHI Health Center Omaha.
Dec. 1: Purdue Boilermakers forward Trevion Williams (50) shoots the ball against the Oakland Golden Grizzlies at Mackey Arena. Purdue won the game, 93-50.
Dec. 1: Wisconsin Badgers forward Micah Potter (11) makes a basket against the Green Bay Phoenix at the Kohl Center. Wisconsin won the game, 82-42.
Dec. 1: Michigan State’s Aaron Henry blocks a shot by Duke’s DJ Steward in the Champions Classic at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, N.C. Michigan State won the game, 75-69.
Nov. 30: Xavier Musketeers guard Nate Johnson (10) drives to the basket and is fouled by Eastern Kentucky Colonels forward Tariq Balogun (13) at the Cintas Center. Xavier won the game, 99-96.
Nov. 30: Seton Hall Pirates guard Jared Rhoden (14) battles for a rebound against the Iona Gaels at Prudential Center. Seton Hall won the game, 86-64.
Nov. 29: Iowa State guard Darlinstone Dubar, top left, looks to pass under the basket as Arkansas-Pine Bluff guards Dequan Morris, center, and Joshuwa Johnson, right, defend.
Nov. 29: Richmond’s Nathan Cayo, bottom and Kentucky’s Isaiah Jackson collide during the first half of action in Lexington, Ky.
Nov. 29: Ohio State’s Duane Washington, right, drives to the basket past UMass-Lowell’s Darion Jordan-Thomas.
Nov. 28: Virginia Tech forward Keve Aluma grabs a rebound during an upset of No. 3 Villanova.
Nov. 28: Michigan State guard Joshua Langford is defended by Notre Dame’s Dane Goodwin.
Nov. 27: Virginia’s Casey Morsell, center, is pressured by San Francisco’s Taavi Jurkatamm, left, and and Damari Milstead.
Nov. 27: Gonzaga forward Drew Timme (2) and Auburn forward Jaylin Williams go after a rebound.
Boston College guard Rich Kelly, left, reacts after a charging foul against Rhode Island Rams guard Jalen Carey.
Nov. 26: Kansas forward Jalen Wilson makes a basket and is fouled by Gonzaga forward Anton Watson.
Nov. 25: Rutgers’ Cliff Omoruyi (5) dunks the ball over Sacred Heart’s Nico Galette at the Rutgers Athletic Center (RAC).
Nov. 25: Louisville’s Samuell Williamson is fouled by Evansville’s Jax Levitch.
Nov. 25: St. Francis’ Ramiir Dixon-Conover, bottom, knocks Pittsburgh’s Xavier Johnson back as he drives down the court.
Nov. 25: Morehead State forward James Baker Jr. dunks the ball against Kentucky forward Oliver Sarr.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: University of Michigan pauses all athletics ‘until further notice’ after confirmed cases of COVID-19 variant
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