Toledo basketball program pauses activities due to COVID-19 outbreak
The Toledo Rockets men's basketball program confirmed on Wednesday that it is pausing in-person activities for at least two weeks due to a COVID-19 outbreak.
As Jeff Borzello reported for ESPN, six Toledo players tested positive for the virus on Tuesday. Coach Tod Kowalczyk explained on Monday that he tested positive for the coronavirus over the weekend and added that he preferred to start the upcoming season in either January or February due to concerns related to the pandemic:
Kowalczyk told the Toledo Blade:
“It came back on Sunday that I was positive. It can happen to anybody. I think I've been very cautious. Have I been perfect? No, but it's hard to be perfect. I have worn a mask at all times. I kept social distancing. Anytime anybody was in my office we'd have masks on. It's a virus. It's going to find some cracks.”
Kowalczyk updated his condition and the state of the team on Wednesday:
In a statement shared by Borzello, Toledo athletic director Mike O'Brien said:
"Student-athlete health and safety is always our top priority and we are going to continue to follow the prevention protocols and ongoing testing procedures already in place. The COVID-19 pandemic remains a serious challenge, and our primary focus will always be on ensuring our student-athletes' health. We look forward to our men's basketball program resuming its team activities."
Back on Sept. 19, Brian Hamilton and Hugh Kellenberger of The Athletic reported that Toledo will open the season with a three-day, three-game round-robin competition that involves Xavier, Bradley, and Oakland from Nov. 25-27.
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