In response to 10 positive COVID-19 cases on the UC Santa Barbara women’s water polo team, the university announced in an emergency alert on Tuesday afternoon that it has cancelled the remainder of the team’s season, effective immediately. 

This is the first COVID-19 outbreak in intercollegiate athletics reported to UCSB students. Christina DeMarzo / Daily Nexus

The 10 positive cases were identified by the university and the Santa Barbara County Public Health Department. The team is currently self-isolating and has not used any campus facilities since March 25, according to the emergency alert.

“It is unfortunate that we needed to take this action,” UCSB Director of Intercollegiate Athletics John McCutcheon said in a statement published yesterday. “But circumstances forced our decision. We will continue to support the team as we progress through this difficult situation.”

Women’s water polo was scheduled to host the University of Hawai’i on Sunday and had a 3-5 record this season. 

This is the first COVID-19 outbreak in intercollegiate athletics reported to UCSB students and the only intercollegiate UCSB athletic season to be cancelled at the university level this spring. All Big West fall sports were cancelled this past year — including men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and women’s soccer, and women’s volleyball — but winter and spring sports were carried out with COVID-19 safety protocols in place. 

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Katherine Swartz
Katherine Swartz is the University News Editor for the 2020-2021 school year. She reports on campus news, Associated Students and UC-wide news. She can be reached at kswartz@dailynexus.com or news@dailynexus.com, and on twitter @kv_swartz.