In all of his previous announcements regarding Duke's plans for returning to campus amid the COVID-19 pandemic, President Vincent Price did not mention athletics once.
But Tuesday afternoon, Blue Devil fans finally received information indicating a return to sports.
In an email to the Duke community, Price announced that Duke student-athletes will begin a phased return to campus July 12.
Price's announcement also mentioned that "all student-athletes will be tested for COVID-19 on arrival and will be required to observe health and hygiene protocols that have been developed by Duke and national medical experts, consistent with the procedures for all undergraduate students."
Just minutes after Price's email, Duke Athletics announced that the football team will be the first to return to campus July 12, followed by women's soccer July 21 and volleyball July 27. The field hockey, men's and women's cross country and men's soccer teams will all return to campus July 29.
Duke Athletics' statement added that "members of Duke’s men’s and women’s basketball programs are tentatively scheduled to return on August 2."
This is a developing story. Check back for more updates.
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