EAST LANSING — 139 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) COVID-19 tests were administered to student-athletes and athletics staff members by Michigan State athletic department members during the week of  Oct. 15-22. In total, 123 student-athletes and 16 staff members were tested, with one student-athlete and zero staff members testing positive for the virus. 

Since the beginning of June, MSU has administered over 2,800 COVID-19 tests to student-athletes and staff members. 144 student-athletes and eight staff members have tested positive since the testing program launched. 

The Big Ten requires student-athletes, coaches, and other athletic staff who attend practices or games to complete daily COVID-19 antigen tests. The student-athletes who tested positive for COVID-19 will be isolated and receive daily check-ins from athletic training staff and other services from medical and administrative staff members.

Under the new Big Ten return-to-play guidelines, any football player who tests positive for COVID-19 will be sidelined for 21 days (at a minimum) and subject to various heart screenings to ensure proper heart health. 

Student-athletes who test positive must isolate for three weeks and undergo medical exams from MSU medical staff in addition to testing negative for COVID-19 before returning.

Testing results for all students can be found on MSU’s COVID-19 dashboard.