BOZEMAN -- At least one Montana State football player has tested positive for COVID-19, multiple sources close to the program told MTN Sports.
The case comes after the university opened up some of its facilities for voluntary athletics-related workouts on June 1, the same day that Governor Steve Bullock announced that Montana was moving into Phase 2 of its reopening plan. According to the sources, a Bobcat football player tested positive late last week.
MSU football players have voluntarily been working out in small groups. The group with which the player was working out has been quarantined for two weeks.
The Gallatin City-County Heath Department said Friday this week that five total Montana State individuals have tested positive.
“We’re seeing cases come from many different parts of the county,” said Matt Kelley, GCCHD health officer. “We have cases in West Yellowstone. We have a pretty sizable outbreak in Big Sky. We’re working with Montana State University because we have five individuals at Montana State who have tested positive.”
A Montana State spokesman said the university can't comment on the health of student-athletes.
Positive cases have been on the rise in collegiate athletic programs since the NCAA began allowing voluntary workouts to resume on college campuses. Kansas State’s football program suspended its football workouts for two weeks after 14 athletes across all sports tested positive for COVID-19 out of 130 tested.
Clemson, Texas and the University of Houston are among other schools who have confirmed COVID-19 cases after testing athletes.