UH sidelined: 4 Warriors football players test positive for COVID; team activities suspended

The University of Hawaii has temporarily suspended all team-related activities at the school’s athletic complex after four football players received positive test results for the , school officials Wednesday.

The number of positive results might increase after all the tests are processed. As part of the NCAA’s return-to-play program, teams that are expected to play this fall are tested once a week. UH tested 140 student-athletes on Tuesday.

The pause affects UH’s football, men’s and women’s basketball, soccer and women’s volleyball teams.

The football team was about 30 minutes into their fifth practice — the first in full pads — when they were notified of the positive results. UH reported the players are asymptomatic, in isolation and “being cared for by the university.” UH officials said the state Department of Health has been notified.

The Warriors resumed football workouts the past Friday when the Mountain West Conference, of which UH is a football-only member, announced it would launch its season on Oct. 24. The schedule has yet to be released, although the wish is the 12 MW teams each play eight league games over an eight-week period.

The championship game — pairing either the division winners or the two teams with the highest winning percentage — is planned for Dec. 19.

The UH basketball teams are in the acclimation phase during which they are allowed 12 hours of organized workouts and meetings each week. The soccer and women’s volleyball teams also have been permitted to participate in strength/conditioning drills. The soccer and women’s volleyball seasons have been moved from the fall to the spring semester.

UH officials did not indicate a timeline for resuming team activities. They said the “impacted” areas are closed and will be cleaned and disinfected.

“The pause covers all student-athletes who are currently coming to campus and the employees who may have come into contact with them,” the school wrote in the announcement.