EUGENE, Oregon (AP) – Oregon and Oregon State were the first Power Five schools to announce they would need proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test for anyone over the age of 12 to attend soccer games.
In its announcement on Friday, Oregon said the decision was made with health officials and “state peer institutions.”
The mandate goes into effect Monday and comes at the end of a week when state officials warned not to fill hospitals quickly as cases reported daily hit record levels.
Oregon is one of several Pac-12 schools that require students and staff to have a vaccination or a waiver.
The Oregon football team opens their season on September 4th at the 54,000-seat Autzen Stadium in Eugene against the state of Fresno. Oregon State begins its home schedule at Reser Stadium on September 11th against Hawaii.
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Hawaii was the first major college football school earlier in the day, saying it would not have fans at its inaugural sporting events of the season due to a recent surge in COVID-19. Hawaii’s first home soccer game will be against Portland State on September 5th.
The moves come about a week after Tulane, New Orleans became the first school to play soccer in the highest subdivision of the NCAA that requires proof of vaccine or a negative test in order to attend sporting events.
Tulane’s decision followed a mandate set by city officials that also affects the NFL’s Saints, but school officials said they would implement the policy themselves.
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