Malcolm Rodriguez Announces Positive COVID-19 Test

Amid the Cowboys’ return to Stillwater to prepare for the upcoming season, another Poke has announced a positive COVID-19 test.

Senior linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez tweeted out Sunday that he tested positive for the virus when reporting back to campus. Rodriguez joins fellow linebacker Amen Ogbongbemiga as players to have announced positive tests. Rodriguez added that he has been “completely asymptomatic.”

“This message goes to urge that even though you may not exhibit symptoms, you may still be a carrier per the guidelines of the CDC,” Rodriguez wrote. “Please continue to use extreme caution when presenting yourself to any group gatherings that exist beyond the confines of your own home and surroundings. Covid 19 is not a hoax and still exists. Be safe, be well, best wishes.”

Oklahoma State put together a 17-man task force in late May to help ensure athletes’ safe return to campus. The task force set out these guidelines for athletes who tested positive for the virus:

• If a student-athlete, coach or support staff member tests positive for COVID-19, they will enter the quarantine protocol per medical, local/state health department and university guidelines and will begin to receive the appropriate monitoring and treatment from the team physician, athletic training staff and any other medical consultants.
• The positive student-athlete will be moved to separate housing designated by OSU for quarantine purposes.
• Appropriate contact tracing as per local/state health department and university guidelines will begin and all that have been in contact will be instructed to quarantine and have symptoms monitored for a period determined by health and medical officials. Contact tracing will begin with the student-athlete’s cohort/workout group. 
• After the determined quarantine time, if the traced contact group is not showing symptoms, they will be retested for COVID-19 prior to resuming activities. Upon receiving a negative test, they will await specific instructions from the team physician and/or the athletic training staff regarding a return to activities.
• Upon recognition of symptomatic student-athletes and/or staff in the west end zone facility, the person will immediately be referred and directed to OSU University Health Services (or Stillwater Medical Center if after working hours) for evaluation, testing and treatment.
• ·If needed, transportation to University Health Services or Stillwater Medical Center for symptomatic student-athletes will be provided from athletic training staff wearing appropriate personal protective equipment.

Rodriguez has been a rock for the Cowboys’ defense since getting on campus. He started at safety as a sophomore in 2018 where he was second on the team in tackles with 83. He switched linebacker last season, where he led with team with 103 total tackles. That mark ranked fourth in the Big 12.

Stay safe!❤️ pic.twitter.com/kgxvM5k92B

— Malcolm Rodriguez (@malcolmlrod) June 14, 2020