Cal quarterback releases statement on COVID-19 controversy

Cal quarterback Chase Garbers vented his frustrations with the University Health Services’ handling of the recent COVID-19 outbreak via Twitter on Monday. He spoke for the team, asserting the players are under pressure from the university to take tests that are not mandatory.

“We players are frustrated with our University Health Services,” Garbers began in a statement. “City and University officials spoke to us today, (and) they really had no answers for us. They just beat around the bush and deflected our questions. However, we did come away with that the testing last week was not mandated by anyone, it was highly recommended, mean they should’ve never happened.

“But the university told us it was mandated and we could not participate unless we tested. They will continue to test us this week. These tests also aren’t mandated but highly recommended so therefore we should have a choice on whether to take the test or not. But they are still forcing us to take the test with the threat of cancelling competition unless we test. Nothing was mandated but it was enforced as so with the threat of keeping players and staff out of competition until we tested and the same if for this week.

“We have worked too hard to have someone take this all away from us, it is wrong. We deserve answers and transparent communication.”

The Cal quarterback was one of 24 Golden Bears to miss last week’s game against Arizona because of COVID-19. Five coaches also missed the game. The Bears lost that game 10-3, snapping a two-game winning streak.

According to independent Cal reporter Avinash Kunnath, sources confirmed to him that if a Golden Bears’ player or coach tests positive for COVID, they then have to isolate for 10 days – even if the person is vaccinated or has had subsequent negative tests. Kunnath mentioned that while there were some subsequent negative tests this past week, those players and coaches still weren’t permitted to travel with Cal to its game at Arizona.

In another tweet posted by Kunnath, he said that he expects “most Cal players who tested positive to play” against USC this week, but added that “they might not practice most of the week.” It would certainly help the Golden Bears’ chances of winning if they have their players back, especially Garbers, but they would be pretty rusty after not playing or practicing for two weeks.

Cal’s first public announcement regarding players being in COVID-19 protocol came last Thursday, but the school didn’t provide any details regarding the situation – other than Golden Bears’ head coach Justin Wilcox saying that he had some players that began to feel unwell on Monday.

“Our primary concern is for the health of our student-athletes, and we continue to monitor the situation closely,” Cal athletic director Jim Knowlton said in a statement.

“As we know, this pandemic is not over. We need to respect it and understand that it can affect much of what we do every day. Even with 99 percent of our football student-athletes fully vaccinated, we have seen that breakthrough cases are still possible.”

Many of the players that missed Saturday’s game at Arizona were asymptomatic. Cal – which reported that their team is 99% vaccinated – said all players that made the trip were tested and cleared to travel.

Now 3-6 on the season and 2-4 in Pac-12 play, Cal will look to bounce back Saturday against USC at California Memorial Stadium.

On3’s Tyler Mansfield contributed to this report.