Boston College Swimmers Test Positive For Coronavirus

NEWTON, MA — At least a dozen Boston College athletes are in isolation after testing positive for the coronavirus, the school's athletic department confirmed Thursday.

The students who tested positive are members of the swim team, according to Jason Baum, one of the school's senior athletic director. Although he did not specify the number of athletes who have tested positive, The Boston Globe, which first reported the story, indicated there were at least 13. There are 19 women listed on the women's swim team roster and 23 listed on the men's swim team roster.

"We have temporarily paused all team activities with the swimming and diving program," Baum said in a statement.

So far this week, the school said it has tested 1,720 students and staff, and 46 of those tests came back positive. All 46 are undergraduates, the school said. Last week, the school said it tested 4,322 people; of those, 26 people — also all undergraduates — tested positive.

As of Thursday, Boston College reported having 68 undergraduates in isolation after they tested positive for the virus. That's up from 30 on Tuesday. Of those who tested positive as of Thursday, 28 were in campus housing, while the other 40 are recovering at home, according to the school.

Although it's not immediately clear how the students contracted the virus, the outbreak comes just weeks after neighbors in Newton and in Brighton pushed the school on its plans to ensure that students who live off campus abide by safety protocols.

That such a large group of student-athletes tested positive raises questions about the college's decision to continue sports this school year. Boston College is set to open the 2020 football season Saturday with reduced capacity as Ohio visits Chestnut Hill.

Baum said football is still on schedule. The team has not had any positive cases since one in June, officials said. As for swimming, Baum said the schedule has not yet been set, although last year the swim teams had a meet in mid-September.

13 Swimmers Contract COVID-19 via The Boston Globe.

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