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Notre Dame Football Player Tests Positive For COVID-19

WVPE Stock Photos

A Notre Dame football player tested positive for COVID-19 Monday as 91 other athletes at the university were tested. The Fighting Irish said they are taking precautions moving forward.

The football player who tested positive was asymptomatic and is self-isolating.

University officials said four other student-athletes are self-isolating out of precaution based on contact tracing. An additional 50 staff members, including coaches and athletic trainers were also tested and the  university said all those tests came back negative.

University Spokesperson Paul Browne said while football is important to Notre Dame, safety comes first.

“The question of whether football can continue or not was secondary to the principle concern of making the classrooms and residential experience safe and enjoyable and a rich academic experience," he said. "If we can bring football along that’s great but it does not trump those other concerns.”

Browne said athletes, coaches, and staff will continue to be frequently tested for COVID-19 as the football season approaches.

He said this round of tests took roughly 24 hours to come back.

Contact Annacaroline at acaruso@wvpe.org or follow her on Twitter at @AnnacarolineC16

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