Tigers athletics release COVID-19 testing numbers
After the Shelby County Health Department said there were 46 active COVID-19 cases within Memphis athletic programs, the Tigers athletic department issued a statement Wednesday night confirming the number of cases.
The athletic department also released its full COVID-19 testing numbers for the first time since athletes returned to campus for voluntary workouts in June.
“In total since June 5, the athletic department has conducted over 3,500 COVID-19 tests and has had 81 positive results, with 46 being considered active. All others have fully recovered,” the statement read. “Due to privacy concerns, names will not be released, and impacted sports will not be identified. However, a recent report that attributed 42 current cases to the football program is significantly overstated.”
The Shelby County Health Department attributed the 46 active cases to two clusters. Forty-two of the cases are part of a cluster related to the football program, although neither the department nor the Tigers said how many members of the program are among the cases.
Memphis football coach Ryan Silverfield told The Commercial Appeal that “the football program does not have 42 positives.”
Health department spokesperson Chip Washington confirmed to The Commercial Appeal that the remaining four cases are among students and staff of the Memphis’ pom and cheer squad.
The football team paused all activities on Sept. 11 due to a COVID-19 outbreak. As a result, the Tigers and Houston agreed to postpone their game that was scheduled for Friday.
Since then, junior wide receiver Coye Fairman and senior linebacker Tim Hart announced on Twitter they would opt out of this season.
Memphis remains scheduled to face UTSA on Sept. 25 in San Antonio. Silverfield said Monday that the Tigers hope to resume conditioning later this week, as well as return to the football complex on Saturday if health permits.