Kutztown suspends athletic activity

Kutztown University has suspended athletic-related activities indefinitely because of an increasing number of COVID-19 cases among its students, a source told the Reading Eagle.

In a letter to staff members Wednesday obtained by the Reading Eagle, Kutztown said the university’s Health and Wellness Center received test results Wednesday from students who developed symptoms over the weekend, which included 20 positive cases.

“The majority of these new cases can be attributed to social gatherings,” the university letter said. “Given this is the university’s biggest jump in positive cases in the first two weeks of the semester, we continue to monitor the situation very closely and highly encourage our student body to follow the health and wellness protocols we have in place.

“We are considering additional policies and protocols to curb further spread.”

The source said athletes on several teams are among those who have tested positive, describing the number of cases as “exploding.”

According to the Kutztown website, 14 of the 20 students with positive tests live off campus and six on campus. Since Aug. 24, 10 students who live on campus and 15 students who live off campus have tested positive. One employee also has tested positive.

Athletes from all 19 sports cannot meet with their coaches, unless it’s for academic reasons, and cannot participate in strength and conditioning training.

Golden Bears teams were expected to begin workouts on Sept. 8.

Last month, the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference suspended all NCAA competition for its member schools through the fall semester. No competition can be held before Jan. 1.

PSAC officials said then they hoped to move the fall sports to the spring semester.