The University of Rhode Island football team has halted all team activities for two weeks following two positive COVID-19 test results within the program. The University made the announcement today.

The positive test results – one for a student-athlete and the other for a staff member – were reported Saturday, and all team activities were immediately halted. Following contact tracing by the Rhode Island Department of Health, it was determined that all football student-athletes and select staff members should quarantine for two weeks. Well before the start of the fall semester, URI athletics and football staff worked closely with URI Health Services to ensure that all practice and training regimens met the standards set in place by the University and state health department.

“Our highest priority is the health and well-being of the student-athletes, everyone associated with our programs and the overall campus community,” Director of Athletics Thorr Bjorn said. “We will take an abundance of caution in effort to limit the possibility of spread.”

Since the fall semester began, all athletic programs have slowly and safely increased practice pod numbers in accordance with state and University guidelines.

The halting of team activities for two weeks is the appropriate step for the football program, based on the University-approved protocols.

The University continues to conduct mandatory testing of students and surveillance testing of faculty and staff.

For the period of Oct. 25 through Nov.1, the University conducted 4,493 tests, with 31 coming back positive. The University’s positivity rate remains below 1 percent.