University of Michigan Athletics Paused Due To Covid Variant Outbreak The entire University of Michigan Athletic Department has been forced to shut down for at least two weeks due to an outbreak of the new Covid-19 variant. The Michigan Department of Health & Human Services ordered the shut down after several members of the U of M Athletic Department tested positive for the new variant. The MDHHS is being more aggressive with their orders due to the evidence that the variant is more easily spread. That means that U of M will have no athletic activities, including practice, for at least 14 days.