A cross-sectional study of more than half a million National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division 1 athletes and 3.5 million nonathletes suggests that participation in collegiate athletics was not tied to higher COVID-19 test positivity in the 2020-21 academic year.The research was published yesterday in JAMA Network Open.In spring 2020, collegiate athletes were temporarily halted owing to concerns about the risk of long-term COVID-19 cardiac adverse events in athletes and viral transmission during athletic activities.
When activities resumed later in the pandemic, the NCAA implemented strict physical distancing, face covering, and testing policies.Stanford University researchers searched public official COVID-19 dashboards and press releases on 65 Power 5 NCAA Division 1 universities during 2020 and 2021.
Those that released at least 4 months of testing data, including the fall 2020 football season, for student athletes and nonathletes were included in the analysis.The NCAA required that athletes in activities with a high risk of transmission (eg, football, basketball) be tested at least once a week using polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
Four schools conducted regular surveillance testing for nonathletes throughout the year, while two tested only in the spring, and the other six used no nonathlete surveillance testing.