July 31, 2020

DURHAM, N.C. -- Duke University’s COVID-19 testing program has administered 700 tests to 309 student-athletes, coaches and staff in the first three weeks since student-athletes began returning to campus for voluntary practice.  

As of July 31, 2020, nine student-athletes are in mandatory isolation due to positive COVID-19 tests. Sixteen others who earlier tested positive went through the required isolation period and have been cleared by physicians for return to regular activity. No coaches or staff have tested positive, and no teams have paused team-related activities due to testing results.

The majority of student-athletes testing positive were positive upon arrival.  All were asymptomatic or experienced minor symptoms, and no student-athletes required additional medical care. Treatment consisted of symptom monitoring, rest and over the counter medication. 

“We are foremost concerned for player safety, and with finding ways to balance the desire to have a vibrant athletic culture on campus, with the reality that COVID-19 is a highly transmissible infection,” said infectious disease specialist Cameron Wolfe MD, associate professor of medicine at Duke and chair of the Atlantic Coast Conference’s Medical Advisory Group for COVID-19. “To that end, an aggressive testing strategy is paramount -- identifying positive asymptomatic student-athletes, who may be capable of inadvertently transmitting the virus, is crucial.  Duke is finding and isolating cases early in the season, prepared to quarantine when necessary, and by combining a regular batch testing program with multi-pronged mitigation strategies, we believe athletics can and will be successful at Duke.”  

Duke’s testing programs follow the protocols set by the ACC COVID-19 Medical Advisory Group. 

With undergraduate and graduate students returning to campus in August for the start of the fall semester, Duke has set up a comprehensive COVID-19 testing protocol which includes encouragement of testing and quarantining prior to traveling to Durham,  mandatory testing on arrival before access to campus is permitted pooled community screening of students, faculty and staff, daily symptom monitoring, and an extensive contact tracing program. The University has set aside more than 300 beds to be used for quarantining on-campus students if necessary. 

“Everyone must contribute to keeping COVID to a minimum on campus,” said Wolfe. “We will all need to be prepared to acknowledge the risks and wear masks and distance where we can; to be prepared to listen to contact tracing experts; and to be a part of our rigorous testing platform that will roll out across campus, as it has done for athletics. Things will feel very different. Regular testing and vigilance around health and safety protocols are going to be crucial for the fall semester to be successful and safe.” 

Duke’s overall COVID-19 testing regimen includes the following steps:   

·         All students have been asked to self-quarantine for 14 days prior to arrival in Durham, and obtain COVID-19 tests, if possible, prior to arrival.  

·         All undergraduate, graduate and professional students will be tested before their Duke Cards will be activated, except PhD students who have been regularly coming to campus this summer for approved research.  Students will have to sequester in their room or off-campus residence until their results are confirmed. 

·         All students residing in the Durham area will be required to complete a daily symptom-monitoring survey every day before coming to campus.  

·         Faculty and staff who visit campus regularly will have to complete the symptom tracking survey every day.  

·         Students who reside in Duke housing, who attend classes on campus or work on campus, and a number of faculty and staff, will be subject to regular pooled surveillance testing during the semester.  

·         Contact tracers will conduct notifications of those who may have been in close contact with someone whose test comes back positive.  

In addition, all students, faculty, staff and visitors will be required to wear face coverings while on campus and observe other health-related guidelines for distancing and hygiene.

Most of you are wondering if Duke football and basketball will be played this season and the truth of the matter with concern to an answer is that it is up in the air.

Just today, the Miami Marlins baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles has been canceled or delayed due to players testing for the COVID-19 virus. No less than fourteen players and coaches in the Marlins organization have tested positive.

That unfortunate news was then followed by the New York Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies canceling their contest.

The ACC presidents are scheduled to meet this Wednesday and there is no way to know how the latest news will hinder their plans. We were originally expected to hear their outline for Fall sports and scheduling by weeks end, but more developments between now and then could once again delay the process of a firm commitment.

The Duke basketball team is scheduled to be on campus in early August. Most recently, Duke announced that upperclassmen would not be on campus, but the athletes have been given permission to do so. This also means the football team can move out of their temporary quarters in the Washington Duke motel unless those plans change in the current climate of liquid and ever-changing policies.

Another item that has come to light is that Duke expects to implement a 30% reduction in fans allowed to attend athletic events. This too is something that could change as we all watch how major league baseball and the NBA season set to tip-off again this Thursday.

DURHAM, N.C. – Duke University has suspended all athletic competition for the foreseeable future, effective immediately, in response to COVID-19. The announcement was made Thursday by President Vincent E. Price, in conjunction with guidance from public health experts and Duke Athletics leadership.

The suspension applies to all athletic competitions and practices for the health and safety of all who are essential to these activities. This suspension also applies to any camps and clinics sponsored by Duke’s intercollegiate athletic programs.

Duke University and Duke Athletics will convey additional information, when available, via its social media channels and GoDuke.com.

Statement from Duke President Vincent E. Price:
“We are taking this action to protect the safety of our student athletes, coaches, staff and others who are essential to these activities. I know it is a great disappointment to our student-athletes and coaches, whose hard work and dedication to their sports and Duke is inspirational to so many, but we must first look out for their health and well-being.  This is clearly an unprecedented moment for our university, our region and the wider world. As we take steps to confront the spread of this virus, I’m grateful for the cooperation and support of the entire Duke community.”

Statement from Duke Vice President & Director of Athletics Kevin White:

“During this unpredictable time, Duke Athletics fully supports all measures to protect the health and welfare of the Duke family and beyond.  While we understand this may be daunting to many, please know that this decision is entirely in the best interest of all student-athletes, coaches, staff and fans.”

Statement from Duke Head Men’s Basketball Coach Mike Krzyzewski:

“We emphatically support the decision made by Dr. Price today regarding the suspension of athletic competition at Duke. The welfare of our student-athletes, and all students at Duke, is paramount, and this decision reflects that institutional priority. Certainly, I want to applaud Dr. Price, who took a leadership role with his presidential peers and the Atlantic Coast Conference in arriving at this decision.”