EAST LANSING — Michigan State University conducted 69 COVID-19 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests on student-athletes and staff members from Sept. 29-Oct. 6. 54 of the tests were administered on student-athletes while 15 were used on staff members. Of the 54 student-athletes who were tested, six tested positive. There were no staff members that tested positive during the latest round of testing. 

Per Big Ten policy, football student-athletes are undergoing daily antigen testing six days a week. Anyone who receives a presumptive positive result from the antigen test is then required to take a PCR test. When hockey begins its season, it will also utilize the daily antigen testing. If a student-athlete tests positive for COVID-19, they will be quarantined and isolated for a period of at least 21 days as well as examined for myocarditis. 

Currently, student-athletes in men’s and women’s basketball, as well as volleyball, are being tested five days a week. MSU will also conduct weekly surveillance PCR testing on a random sample of approximately 5% of student-athletes who are not involved in football, men’s and women’s basketball, hockey and volleyball.

Since Michigan State’s testing program started in June, there have been more than 2,160 tests conducted on student-athletes with 140 total positive results, as well as over 400 tests on staff members with only eight positive results. 

Those with positive test results will continue to have daily check-ins with the athletic training staff while they remain in isolation. Further testing and follow-ups are required before the individuals can return to any level of workouts.  

Since student-athletes are tested through MSU’s clinical testing sites, the positive testing numbers can be found on the university’s COVID-19 dashboard page.