(DIXIE STATE UNIVERSITY COVID-19 EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN)

UPDATE - 5:45 p.m.: "The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference has announced the suspension of all spring championship competitions and travel through April 6, as a result of the rapidly developing information and decisions related to COVID-19."  (OFFICIAL RMAC STATEMENT)

The Dixie State University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, in accordance to direction from the NCAA COVID-19 Advisory Panel, announced on Thursday that attendance to all remaining Trailblazer home athletic events for the 2020 spring season will closed to the public until further notice.

As a result of the RMAC's statement on Thursday, this weekend's Dixie State Softball home RMAC pod series vs. both Colorado Mesa and Adams State, which was scheduled to be played at Karl Brooks Field this Saturday and Sunday, as been suspended. In addition, future DSU softball and Trailblazer baseball home events will be impacted, as well as DSU's women's tennis matches, DSU men's and women's golf tournaments, and women's outdoor track meets, over the next several weeks.

Only essential game management personnel will be permitted to attend DSU home athletic events. Essential game management personnel are defined as – student-athletes, coaches, athletic trainers and medical staff, game officials, and operational and administrative staff.

On Wednesday, the NCAA COVID-19 Advisory Panel released the following statement:
"The NCAA COVID-19 Advisory Panel recognizes the fluidity of COVID-19 and its impact on hosting events in a public space. COVID-19 is spreading rapidly in the United States, and behavioral risk mitigation strategies are the best option for slowing the spread of this disease. This is especially important because mildly symptomatic individuals can transmit COVID-19. Given these considerations, coupled with a more unfavorable outcome of COVID-19 in older adults – especially those with underlying chronic medical conditions – we recommend against sporting events open to the public. We do believe sport events can take place with only essential personnel and limited family attendance, and this protects our players, employees, and fans."

In addition to DSU softball hosting home events this weekend, three other Trailblazer programs are on the road this weekend. Here is an update to the current status of those teams:

• The 2020 NCAA Division II Men's Basketball Tournament South Central Regional, hosted by West Texas A&M on March 14-17 in Amarillo, Texas, has been canceled, as has all NCAA Men's and Women's basketball tournaments at all three NCAA levels. In addition, the NCAA announced that all spring sports championships will also be canceled.
• Dixie State women's swimming has two student-athletes competing at the 2020 NCAA Division II Championships in Geneva, Ohio. However on Thursday afternoon, the NCAA announced that the final five sessions of the meet were canceled.
• Dixie State Baseball's four-game weekend series at UCCS this Saturday and Sunday in Colorado Springs has been suspended.

Dixie State University has also provided a comprehensive COVID-19 Emergency Response Plan. Please visit wellness.dixie.edu/coronavirus-information for more information.
 
Fans can watch Trailblazer baseball and softball home games free of charge on DSU's channel on the RMAC Network and can follow along with live stats. Links for both of those services, and the most updated information on Trailblazer Athletics, please visit DixieStateAthletics.com.