Big Ten teams will be able to isolate players before they’re contagious with COVID tests

One reason the Big Ten may now feel more comfortable with fall football is advanced COVID-19 tests.

Chicago Tribune sportswriter Teddy Greenstein shared an interesting tidbit from Northwestern Director of Sports Medicine Jeff Mjaanes: Big Ten teams will be able to isolate players before they are contagious by detecting COVID-19 before they become infectious with daily antigen tests.

Early isolation will be important for Big Ten teams to be able to play a full season. The conference has revealed that a 5 percent infection rate will be the threshold for teams to shut down football activities and that players who test positive will be in a 21-day quarantine.

Northwestern Dir of Spts Medicine Jeff Mjaanes says antigen testing is so good, it can “detect a level of virus thought to be below the level of infectivity.”

So positive cases can be identified and isolated before a player is contagious. HUGE.

— Teddy Greenstein (@TeddyGreenstein) September 16, 2020

SDS Staff

Saturday Down South reports and comments on the news around the Southeastern Conference as well as larger college football topics.