University of Michigan pauses all sports after positive tests
The University of Michigan has paused all athletics, including men's and women's basketball, for at least 14 days following "several" positive tests by people within the Michigan Athletic Department. The positive tests were also for the so-called U.K. variant, a more-contagious version of the virus. The decision to pause athletics was made in part due to the fact the tests were for the B.1.1.7 variant.
The decision was made not by the school but by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. The athletic programs will not be able to play or practice during the period.
"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," Athletic Director Warde Manuel said in a statement.
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The Wolverines men's basketball team, which is currently ranked No. 7 in the latest Associated Press poll, last played Friday against Purdue. Michigan won, 70-53, to advance to 13-1. They currently lead the Big Ten Conference at 8-1. They were supposed to play on Wednesday at Penn State.
The women's basketball team, currently 10-1 overall and ranked No. 11, was supposed to play Purdue on Sunday. The powerhouse men's ice hockey program, ranked in the top 10 nationally, will be affected as well.
The school said no determination has been made on how games scheduled to be played through Feb. 7 will be impacted.