PORTLAND, Ore. — The University of Oregon (UO) men's basketball game at Oregon State (OSU), slated to happen on Jan. 8, has been postponed due to COVID-19 protocols.
As the omicron wave hits Oregon, a number of colleges, elementary, middle and high schools, and even professional sports teams are having to weigh the safety and risks of in-person sports.
UO, like some other schools, had implemented a mandatory booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine for returning students and staff. Students and staff have until Jan. 31 or 30 days after they become eligible, to get the booster dose and be compliant for the upcoming semester.
The university said in a Dec. 28 announcement on its website:
We continue to monitor public health conditions and are prepared to adapt as needed to protect the university and greater community, as guided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Oregon Health Authority, and Lane County Public Health.
Officials with UO said that every effort will be made to reschedule the game and the new date will be announced when it is finalized.
However, that's not the only postponement that OSU has seen recently. It had a game rescheduled on three separate occasions against Sacramento State.
Schools and athletic programs continue to monitor COVID-19 as cases skyrocket in the state. Tuesday set the pandemic-high record of cases with more than 4,500 cases and then Wednesday crushed that grim milestone again with more than 6,200 cases.
Health officials are begging Oregonians to be vaccinated and boosted as the omicron wave begins to peak.
Oregon (8-6) won seven of its 13 non-conference games to start the season. The Ducks beat Utah 79-66 in their only Pac-12 game of the season so far. That game was played Jan. 30.
Oregon State (3-10) lost 10 of its 12 non-conference games before the start of Pac-12 play. Like the Ducks, the Beavers won their only Pac-12 game that has been played so far, beating Utah 88-76 on Dec. 30.
