Individual With COVID-19 Attended BYU/Gonzaga Game, Officials Say
Mar 9, 2020, 3:03 PM | Updated: 8:18 pm
PROVO, Utah – The Davis County resident who tested positive for COVID-19 attended a Brigham Young University basketball game at the Marriott Center, according to officials with the Utah County Health Department.
The individual had mild symptoms and the risk of transmission to others at the game was low, BYU officials said.
State and local health officials said there is no ongoing risk within the Marriott Center and no closure will be necessary.
Officials with the Utah Department of Health said this does not represent a new case of the virus in Utah. Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox, who leads the Utah COVID-19 Task Force, confirmed this individual is the same person who was diagnosed on March 6.
“All high-touch surfaces are regularly disinfected,” BYU officials said in a statement. “No closure of the facility is necessary at present. BYU will continue to assess the safety of hosting large gatherings on campus and will respond promptly to new information.”
The individual who tested positive for the coronavirus attended a game on Feb. 22, 2020. No. 23 BYU defeated No. 2 Gonzaga 91-78 on that date in front of 18,987 fans.
Health department officials are contacting people who had close contact with the individual via letter or phone calls to determine possible exposure.
“These contacts will be checked for development of respiratory illness symptoms,” said officials with the Utah COVID-19 Task Force. “Any who are symptomatic will be assessed and offered testing for COVID-19.”
Anyone who was not contacted by health officials is not considered to be at risk and does not need to take any further action, according to Jenny Johnson with the Utah County Health Department.
Johnson also said since the game took place over two weeks ago, anyone who attended the game and doesn’t have symptoms should not worry.
Cox said there is no need for game attendees to quarantine themselves unless they have symptoms that match the new coronavirus.
“Utah is currently in the midst of a severe influenza season and several other respiratory viruses are also circling throughout the state. If a person develops respiratory symptoms after attending the game, they are much more likely to be due to influenza or another virus than to COVID-19,” task force officials said. “Additionally, the Marriott Center staff has already worked with Utah County Environmental Health staff officials to ensure they took all appropriate measures to disinfect surfaces in the facility using appropriate disinfection products.”
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