Report: 51 Coronavirus Cases Linked To Brigham Young University Campus

PROVO, Utah – Brigham Young University’s campus has been shut down due to the Coronavirus pandemic since mid-March. But that hasn’t stopped a few Coronavirus cases involving BYU students emerging on campus.

A total of 51 Coronavirus cases have been linked to the Brigham Young University campus since March according to a report from the New York Times. The number of tests given to BYU students was not reported by the Times.

As colleges decide how and whether to reopen in the fall, many campuses have already been hit by the coronavirus.

We surveyed every public 4-year college in the U.S. along with many other top universities and found at least 6,300 cases tied to them.https://t.co/PhcJ1x7yQ4

— The New York Times (@nytimes) July 29, 2020

The New York Times discovered more than 6,600 cases of Coronavirus at public, four-year universities, and private institutions that compete in Division I athletics nationwide. BYU’s 51 cases, which is not broken up by student-athletes and general student population, is the 28th highest number of cases from one university.

One spot in front of BYU is Utah State who according to The Times has reported 52 cases.

On Tuesday, BYU Football opened up fall camp practices amid the Coronavirus pandemic. This coming two months after players started to return to campus for voluntary workouts back on June 1st.

KSL Sports asked BYU head coach Kalani Sitake how many tests had been administered to players since voluntary workouts began on June 1st and how many tests have come back positive.

Sitake didn’t give specifics and cited that BYU is maintaining the privacy of the student-athletes in regards to positive tests. But Sitake also noted that tests have been performed and he commended the BYU administration for the great job they’ve done organizing the screening process.

It’s still unclear as to how the BYU football season will look this fall. BYU currently has six games remaining on its 2020 football schedule, but five of those games are against teams that are in leagues who have yet to make announcements on their conference plans amid the Coronavirus pandemic.

BYU is set to begin the fall semester on August 31st where a hybrid model will be offered to students featuring in-person classes along with remote learning. While on campus, BYU students and faculty are asked to wear masks at all times.

Coronavirus Resources

• Have you or a family member been affected by coronavirus issues in Utah? KSL TV wants to hear from you. Contact KSL by emailing social@ksl.com.
• What is COVID-19? Here’s What You Need To Know To Stay Healthy
• What We Know And Don’t Know About The Coronavirus
• Four Common Coronavirus Questions Answered
• The latest coronavirus stories from KSL TV can be found at our Staying Safe: Coronavirus section.
• Your Life Your Health: How can parents prepare their home, children against coronavirus?

How Do I Prevent It?

The CDC has some simple recommendations, most of which are the same for preventing other respiratory illnesses or the flu:

• Avoid close contact with people who may be sick
• Avoid touching your face
• Stay home when you are sick
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue and then throw the tissue in the trash
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, and after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing. Always wash your hands with soap and water if your hands are visibly dirty.
• If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.

How To Get Help

If you’re worried you may have COVID-19, you can contact the Utah Coronavirus Information Line at 1-800-456-7707 to speak to trained healthcare professionals. You can also use telehealth services through your healthcare providers.

Additional Resources

If you see evidence of PRICE GOUGING, the Utah Attorney General’s Office wants you to report it. Common items in question include toilet paper, water, hand sanitizer, certain household cleaners, and even cold medicine and baby formula. Authorities are asking anyone who sees price gouging to report it to the Utah Division of Consumer Protection at 801-530-6601 or 800-721-7233. The division can also be reached by email at consumerprotection@utah.gov.

Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (Saturday from 12-3 pm) on KSL Newsradio. Follow him on Twitter: @Mitch_Harper.