The Minnesota Gophers announced on Tuesday that 43 athletes across all sports have tested positive for COVID-19 since athletes returned to campus in June for voluntary workouts.
In all, 1,406 tests were administered in order for athletes to attend the workouts during that timeframe, registering a positive rate of 3.1%. That number is down from a 4.1% rate that was reported June 30.
The decrease in positive tests is good news for the Gophers as the Big Ten reportedly reconsiders its stance on canceling the fall sports season.
The decision has garnered the most attention in football where several conferences including the SEC, Big 12, and ACC are still slated to play amid concerns with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Several Big Ten schools shut down as they returned to practice earlier this summer, including Michigan State and Rutgers, who had outbreaks within the team. Iowa also joined that list after shutting down all workouts on Tuesday.
The news of the reduced rate for the Gophers could mean good things eventually, however, as the Big Ten has reportedly considered reversing course on their decision with a potential start date of mid-October.
