WKU Hilltoppers: Four students, two staff members test positive for COVID-19

Western Kentucky has announced that four student-athletes and two staff members have tested positive for COVID-19.

Western Kentucky has announced that four student-athletes and two staff members have tested positive for COVID-19 after conducting antibody tests.

WKU’s Associate Athletic Director of Communications, Zach Greenwell, tell The Towel Rack that one current staffer has tested positive and is asymptomatic; the other positive tests came from antibodies, which indicates exposure to COVID-19 but does not necessarily indicate a current exposure.

WKU says 293 antibody tests were performed, which included 183 athletes and 110 staff members.

The university did not identify what players tested positive, nor identified which sport they belong to.

The full release from WKU can be read below.

With a large volume of sport programs returning this month, WKU Athletics in conjunction with its medical partners opted to perform COVID-19 antibody testing on returning student-athletes, coaches and staff last week. Of the 293 antibody tests performed — which included 183 student-athletes and 110 staff — six returned positive, including four student-athletes and two staff members. Each of those individuals with a positive antibody test result then received a follow-up PCR swab test. One of those two staff members’ PCR tests returned active asymptomatic positive this week. WKU Athletics is following the lead and guidance of the local health department in regard to isolation, quarantine, contact tracing and eventual return to physical activity and sport for positive cases.

The antibody test was administered to identify those individuals who have potentially come in contact with the virus and therefore may be at risk for cardiopulmonary side effects. Those who test positive will receive further cardiopulmonary testing and clearance by a specialist before being cleared for physical activity and sport. WKU Athletics and its medical partners consulted with several infectious disease specialists and medical staffs at other institutions both in the state and nationally before finalizing this change in protocol. All student-athletes, and staff in direct contact with student-athletes, making their first arrival to campus between July 4 and the beginning of the fall semester will undergo this protocol. The WKU Athletics portion of the Big Red Restart Plan will be updated to reflect this change as it is a living document, and testing protocols will remain fluid as more information becomes available.

Consistent with the process outlined in our Restart Plan, WKU Athletics will also continue to perform an acute COVID-19 test on any individual who shows or reports symptoms, as well as any individual who specifically requests an acute test. All PCR tests performed by WKU Athletics on individuals who had returned to campus and reported/showed symptoms or requested a test over the last two months have returned negative. With acknowledgement from the university and the athletic department that returning requires us to learn to live beside this virus, our plan since its inception has included a protocol for the thorough care and support of any student-athlete or staff member who required testing or who had a positive test, as well as diligent contact tracing and quarantine contingencies to mitigate the risk to others. That’s in addition to ongoing daily education, temperature screenings, mask requirements, social distancing and proper hygiene. The well-being of our student-athletes and staff has been and always will be our chief concern.

- Zach Greenwell, WKU Athletics Department

At the time of WKU’s release, the school nor Conference USA have announced if the fall sports schedule would be altered in any way.

WKU has not released any schedules for their fall sports, outside of football.