Gators report 25 COVID-19 cases among football players during past week
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The University of Florida reported 25 positive COVID-19 cases among the Gators football team during the past week as UF works to quash an outbreak within the program.
The data is based on test results from Tuesday of last week through Monday, during which the school said 584 tests were performed.
Elsewhere in the athletics department, UF reported one athlete in a sport other than football tested positive for COVID-19.
It is unclear whether the numbers released Tuesday include follow-up testing of anyone who previously tested positive for COVID-19. If the school’s data only included new positive cases Tuesday, the Gators data represented four additional cases beyond what had previously been announced.
UF athletics director Scott Stricklin announced on Wednesday, Oct. 14, 21 players, including 18 on scholarship, tested positive for COVID-19. UF coach Dan Mullen said two assistant coaches tested positive and later confirmed he also had COVID-19, highlighting the impact of the virus on his program.
The outbreak prompted the postponement of this past Saturday’s game against LSU in the Swamp and this week’s home game against Missouri.
UF’s medical staff has not announced where the Gators’ outbreak began, but two players did not report symptoms the day before the team left for the Texas A&M game. Suspecting an allergy or seasonal cold, one player experienced congestion and another a headache, according to Stricklin.
Florida has administered daily tests to everyone in the Gators’ Texas A&M travel party to determine the extent of the spread and sources said the increased testing will continue through Saturday.
The school releases test results each week at 1 p.m. Tuesday during the regular season.
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