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AMHERST, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) – The first tailgate of the season at UMass Amherst has been canceled because of a surge in breakthrough Covid-19 cases.
While there will be some tailgating happening before UMass takes on Boston College Saturday, it will be limited to only people with a valid game day parking pass.
Lots adjacent to the stadium, which holds 1,700 fans but has no capacity limits, are where students usually take part in other game day activities. However, these lots will be closed off.
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The state’s largest public university, which has been requiring students to get vaccinated, reported nearly 150 positive cases of the virus this week. This is compared to just 20 cases reported last week.
Students have said the move is intended to minimize transmission risk, even when outdoors.
UMass said the cases have not lasted long and only result in mild-to-moderate illness. No hospitalizations have been reported.
Most of the cases were among vaccinated students living off-campus. University officials believe the rise in cases has come from students partying and frequenting downtown bars.
WBZ’s Jim MacKay (@JimMacKayOnAir) has the details:
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