Updated, 8:04 p.m., 9/4/20: Nineteen students from the University of Maryland have been suspended pending further review for failing to follow the school’s rules on COVID-19. In an email to the student body, Director for the Office of Student Conduct Andrea Goodwin wrote that students who failed to observe the 4 Maryland Commitment — no large group gatherings, wear face masks, keep six feet of distance, and self-isolate after exposure to the virus — put the entire campus community’s health at risk.

“The expectations have been very clear and the majority of you are complying with the guidelines. However, ultimately, the number of positive COVID-19 cases has increased,” Goodwin wrote.

Goodwin said refusal to follow public health directives could result in penalties and sanctions imposed by government authorities. —Christian Zapata

Original: The University of Maryland is suspending all of its athletics training following a spike in COVID-19 cases among student-athletes.

The university’s health center screened 501 students on Monday and Tuesday, returning 46 positive tests across 10 different teams.

Team workouts on campus resumed in June, with regularly scheduled coronavirus testing. In total, 63 out of 2,191 tests have come back positive, with a positivity rate of 2.9%, the athletic department said. Student-athletes will be tested again Sept. 8.

“As we experience an unprecedented year in college athletics and across the entire country due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we continue to keep the health, safety and welfare of our student-athletes and staff first and foremost,” said Athletic Director Damon Evans in a release.

“We continue to educate our student-athletes and staff about best practices and protocols to be safe this time,” Evans continued. “We look forward to when our student-athletes can safely return to workouts and then restart their seasons.”

This is the second time athletic training has been suspended due to coronavirus. In July, nine student-athletes and staff tested positive and the football team’s summer workouts were put on hold as a result.

Last month, the Big Ten Conference, which Maryland is a part of, postponed its fall sports season, citing health risks related to the pandemic. “I know that for our student-athletes, returning to campus in the fall is synonymous with the opportunity to compete at the highest level in the sport they love,” Evans said at the time. “Not being able to compete this fall is disappointing for all of us, but I have every confidence they will remain resilient and strong in these trying times.”

The university began classes online this week, and classes are scheduled to remain virtual until Sept. 14. A university COVID-19 dashboard keeps track of the campus’ positive cases, availability of campus housing for isolating students, and tests administered.