Positive COVID-19 Test Halts Basketball Practice

The Cal men’s basketball team, which had a late start to its preseason practices because of COVID-19, will take a break from its drills because a team member tested positive for the virus. On Tuesday the University issued the following statement

“Cal’s men’s basketball team will pause team workouts for up to two weeks after a member of the program received a positive COVID-19 result following a regularly scheduled PCR test. This marks the first positive test within Cal Athletics since the start of daily testing at the beginning of October. At this time, the student-athlete who tested positive is asymptomatic.

“The health and well-being of student-athletes, coaches and staff continues to be Cal Athletics’ top priority. The department is following recommendations from University Health Services Infection Control and Berkeley Public Health on contact tracing, quarantining, symptom monitoring and treatment.”

Head coach Mark Fox then released a statement of his own. :” For nearly eight months we have managed around pandemic-related issues with our eyes looking forward to a season. Our team and staff will continue to do so now."

The affected player was not identified because of privacy concerns.

Local health restrictions prohibited the Bears from using Haas Pavilion while other schools were allowed access to their regular practice facilities. Until recently the Bears were practring outdoors on tennis courts with basketball hoops erected on them. 

The Bears have not released the non-league portion of their schedule. The Pac-12 will permit games starting Nov. 25.