HARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — Three people have tested positive for the coronavirus at Marshall University as the college is allowing athletes to return to campus for training, officials said Monday.
A news release from the school said two student athletes and one staffer tested positive over the weekend. They have been quarantined and a contact tracing investigation is underway.
The college is making all student athletes self-isolate for a week when they return to campus. They must test negative before being allowed to leave.
Marshall canceled in-person classes in March but plans to resume them on Aug. 24, the college said. The school has reported five total cases since the outbreak began.
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The new cases come as Gov. Jim Justice moves forward with a plan to lift virus restrictions on sports in the state.
The Republican governor is allowing youth sports teams to begin practicing again on June 8 and games can resume with spectators on June 22. Middle and high school teams can also begin training on June 8, Justice said, adding that sporting facilities such as tennis and basketball courts can reopen the same day. He is also allowing outdoor equestrian events to resume on June 22.
At least 76 people in West Virginia have died from the virus and more than 2,000 have tested positive, state health officials said.
For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms that clear up within weeks. But for others, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, the highly contagious virus can cause severe symptoms and be fatal. The vast majority of people recover.