HARTFORD, Conn. — UConn announced Thursday it will require athletic event spectators aged 12 and older to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination or, for unvaccinated individuals, a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of game time starting Jan. 15.
The university re-examined its attendance policy amid record-high COVID-19 test positivity rates in Connecticut and an explosion of cases nationwide amid the spread of the highly contagious omicron variant.
Full attendance has been allowed at sporting events in the state since last May. Both UConn men’s and women’s basketball have drawn sellout crowds at Gampel Pavilion and/or the XL Center.
UConn’s athletics programs have been among those affected by COVID-19 in the last few weeks. The men’s and women’s basketball teams have had six games combined canceled due to COVID-19 outbreaks, while the men’s hockey team also had to reschedule several. The return of students for classes was also delayed two weeks.
Fans can show proof of vaccination in physical or digital form, including by using the CT WiZ web portal or showing a photo of their CDC-issued vaccination record card.
The CDC defines a person as fully vaccinated as someone who is two weeks out from their second dose in a two-dose vaccine or two-weeks out from a single-dose vaccine.
Unvaccinated fans — including those who received a medical or religious exemption from receiving the vaccine — must show proof of a negative COVID-19 test administrated by a medical professional within 72 hours of game time. The test can be a negative PCR or rapid antigen test, but not an at-home test. Those test results can also be presented in either a physical or digital form.
Fans must show identification corresponding to their vaccination record or test result.
As of Thursday, roughly 90% of Connecticut residents and 95% of those 12 and older have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, while 75% and 83.3% of those groups are fully vaccinated.
Fans experiencing COVID-19 symptoms should not attend games, the school says. Spectators aged two and older must wear masks while eating and drinking.
There will be a handful of athletics games held before the new policy takes effect: As of now, the UConn women’s basketball team is still set to host Creighton Sunday in Storrs, while the men’s basketball team will play St. John’s Wednesday, also at Gampel. On Jan. 14, the women’s hockey team hosts Boston College in Storrs and the men’s team takes on Boston University at the XL Center. UConn’s spring semester begins Jan. 18.
Other Big East schools with vaccine requirements for athletics spectators, with varying age requirements, include Georgetown, St. John’s, DePaul and Xavier — the first three as a result of city requirements in D.C., New York City and Chicago, respectively.
Xavier allows spectators to submit proof of a negative COVID-19 test within the previous 72 hours or proof of vaccination, and DePaul offers that as an alternative for those who received medical or religious exemptions from getting the vaccine. Seton Hall designated its upcoming game versus St. John’s on the men’s side as student only.
Some schools have gone a step further. Central Connecticut, for example, said its two basketball home basketball games this week will be held without spectators. Yale has taken similar steps. Across the country, Stanford and USC have closed athletics events to the public.
The UConn men are set to play at Seton Hall on Saturday. The women’s basketball team has had four games canceled due to COVID-19 issues, with their next scheduled contest Sunday.
