The NFL and the NFLPA had agreed to cut the COVID-19 isolation period from 10 to 5 days for players and staff members that tested positive but were asymptomatic. A person’s vaccination status won’t be a factor when deciding whether they will play or not.
Other Criteria to Meet
Spending five days in isolation is not the only qualification a player or staff member will have to meet. For a person to clear protocol:
- There should be at least 24 hours from their last fever;
- The person shouldn’t use any medication to reduce the fever;
- All of the individual’s symptoms should be resolved;
- Must be cleared by the team doctor, the ICS, and NFL;
- Other local requirements must be met too.
After players are given the green light to return, they should wear a mask for five days. They won’t need to wear a mask only when they are in practice or during a game.
New CDCP Guidelines
Several factors impacted the NFL and NFLPA’s decision. First, the league and players’ association made the change in accordance with the new instructions from the CDCP (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).
The new guidelines stipulate that, based on what we know about the Omicron variant, isolation should be cut from 10 to 5 days, after which individuals should wear a mask for further 5 days.
106 Players Were on the COVID/Reserve List
Another thing that impacted the decision was the number of players who were on COVID/reserve lists. As many as 106 players ended up on the dreaded COVID list in recent days, including Carson Wentz, the Colts quarterback.
Under the new guidelines, meetings will only be allowed outside. When players and staff are indoors, they will have to wear masks, they won’t be allowed to eat together, and there will be no more than 15 players in weight rooms.