South Carolina announces COVID protocols for 2021 games at Williams-Brice Stadium
By SDS Staff
Published:
South Carolina has announced its COVID protocols for home football games in 2021.
The highlights of the announcement are that masks are not mandatory, though fans are encouraged to wear them. The protocols do not call for fans to show any proof of vaccination or negative COVID-19 test result. Vaccines will be offered at Gamecock Village for the season opener.
Here’s the full announcement:
The University of South Carolina Athletics Department is excited to welcome Gamecock fans back to Williams-Brice Stadium for the 2021 football season.
While not mandatory, the Athletics Department encourages all fans to wear face coverings at Williams-Brice Stadium to provide as safe an environment as possible.
Specifically, the Athletics Departments wants to make fans aware of the following health precautions, as recommended by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC):
- Face coverings are strongly encouraged for all indoor and enclosed areas of the stadium unless eating or drinking. The CDC states that, to maximize protection from the Delta Variant and prevent possibly spreading it to others, everyone should wear a mask indoors in public, even if you are fully vaccinated.
- Hand sanitizers will be available throughout the stadium for use. Please frequently wash and sanitize your hands.
- If you have COVID-19, have COVID-19 symptoms, or know you have been exposed to COVID-19 in the past two weeks, please do not enter the stadium.
The Athletics Department has taken additional measures to keep fans safe during the COVID-19 pandemic in Williams-Brice Stadium. These include:
- Williams-Brice Stadium accepts only card or mobile payment at concessions and mobile tickets for entry.
- Event staff on the field, serving food and working in indoor/enclosed spaces at Williams-Brice Stadium will be wearing masks.
DHEC, a sponsor of Gamecock Athletics, will be offering vaccinations free for fans this season at Gamecock Village, located in Gamecock Park. For the season opener vs. Eastern Illinois on Sept. 4, the vaccination time will be from 2:30 – 6:30 pm.
“We hope that by taking these precautions at Williams-Brice Stadium, everyone who attends our games can mitigate the risks of COVD-19 and enjoy all the traditions and festivities that make Gamecock football Saturdays so great,” said Athletics Director Ray Tanner.
As COVID-19 cases in the Midlands and around the state of South Carolina fluctuate, the University could alter its plan for these protocols.
Kickoff for the 2021 season opener is set for 7 p.m. ET.
Saturday Down South reports and comments on the news around the Southeastern Conference as well as larger college football topics.
