The University of New Mexico football team has had no positive cases for COVID-19 throughout its past seven games and during its six-week stay in Nevada, UNM Athletics reported Saturday morning.
Since June 23, the UNM athletic department says it has had 48 positive cases out of 7,286 tests for an overall positivity rate of 0.65%. The Journal asked for specifics on those 48 cases Saturday, but athletic director Eddie Nuñez declined.
Nuñez did comment in a prepared statement from the school, saying: “Our student-athletes have continued to excel in their commitment to the pledge of being safe and following all our COVID-19 expectations. … (It) also demonstrates a stronger commitment to keeping others around them (the community) and themselves safe. To complete a football season during this pandemic is a huge tribute and testament to the willingness by everyone to make this possible.”
Lobo football, which wrapped up its season late Saturday night by defeating Fresno State in Las Vegas, Nevada, at one time had at least nine positive cases (eight players, one coach) at the same time.
But UNM football says it has had over 3,811 tests with no positives over eight weeks. The team is tested three times per week and will be tested Sunday before returning by bus to Albuquerque. They have been staying in Henderson, Nevada and practicing in Las Vegas since Nov. 2, when they left Albuquerque because of the rising coronavirus cases in New Mexico and the public health orders that would have restricted them from competing.
The UNM men’s and women’s basketball teams were tested twice this week resulting in zero positive cases (43 tests for the men; 60 tests for the women). Each program will test once more this weekend.
