The Cameron Crazies can return at Duke, but only if they follow these COVID conditions
The Cameron Crazies will be allowed back inside to cheer the Duke Blue Devils this season with stipulations in place due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
As was first reported in the News & Observer last week, proof of full vaccination against COVID-19 will be a requirement, with certain exceptions, for anyone age 12 and over entering Cameron Indoor Stadium to watch men’s or women’s basketball games this season.
A mask mandate will also be in place.
Duke made the official announcement with the plan’s details Thursday morning. The first event of what will be Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski’s final season before his retirement is the Oct. 15 Countdown to Craziness scrimmage.
Duke has an exhibition game game with Winston-Salem State scheduled for Oct. 30 and the first regular-season home game is Nov. 12 against Army West Point. Duke’s women’s team plays an exhibition with Wingate on Nov. 4 and has its first home regular-season game Nov. 9 against Winthrop.
Anyone 12 and older who is not fully vaccinated will have to show proof they tested negative for COVID-19 within 72 hours of the game they plan to attend.
People unable to meet either of those rules can pay $45 to undergo a rapid COVID-19 antigen test at Blue Devil Tower, across the plaza from Cameron Indoor at Wallace Wade Stadium. A negative test would allow them entry to the game. While a positive antigen test would prevent entry, it will be followed up with a PCR test at no additional charge.
Masks will be required for anyone aged five and older inside the building, except when those people are actively eating or drinking.
Last season, before vaccines were widely available, Duke did not allow spectators or media, beyond the television and radio crews broadcasting the game, to attend games at Cameron.
But last month, Dr. Cameron Wolfe, a Duke infectious disease specialist who heads the ACC’s Medical Advisory Group, told the school’s Academic Council plenty of discussion and planning was ongoing about protocols allowing spectators at Cameron this season.
“You think of Cameron and you think about what makes that a great stadium,” Wolfe said. “What is it? It’s densely packed. It’s everyone yelling. It’s a small, dense stadium. That makes it great. But that’s also not ideal in this situation.”
Wolfe said a review of the ventilation system in Cameron, which opened in 1940, took place as well. But, in the end, he said masking, vaccination and testing would be relied upon to allow spectators back into Cameron this season.
The school already has a vaccine mandate in place for students and, as of Oct. 1, it became a requirement for employment for faculty and staff. The school also has a mask mandate in place for all indoor spaces on campus.
While masks are only recommended for most outdoor spaces, the athletic department requires their use for people gathered to watch games, such as football at Wallace Wade Stadium.
As for gathering information regarding vaccine status for people who want to attend basketball games at Cameron, Duke has set up a website, DukeCheckIn.com, to expedite that process. Proof of full vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test can be uploaded prior to leaving home for each game.
The DukeCheckIn.com website is scheduled to go live at 5 p.m. Oct. 12.
Anyone who chooses not to check in online will be able to provide their information on site at any of six tent locations around Cameron Indoor Stadium. Those people will receive a wristband than will allow them entry to the game. Staff at those locations will also offer people help signing up for online check-in.
Prior to entering the security screening area, spectators will have to either show their wristband or the online confirmation from DukeCheckIn.com.
This story was originally published October 7, 2021 at 11:03 AM with the headline "The Cameron Crazies can return at Duke, but only if they follow these COVID conditions."