The NFL reached an agreement with the NFL Players Association to halt daily COVID-19 testing for players, a memo sent to teams on Friday revealed. According to the memo, players who exhibit coronavirus symptoms will still be subjected to the standard screening and testing protocols, while unvaccinated players would also be added to these programs.
Currently, figures show that 95% of NFL players as well as nearly 100% of NFL staff members have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. With only eight teams having made it to the playoffs, 12 unvaccinated players who will be subject to these guidelines remain.
According to the memo, the NFL’s decision to implement these latest guidelines was made with government health guidelines in mind. The memo stated: “This comprehensive, symptom-based approach to testing reflects our recent experience with the omicron variant and conforms to current public health recommendations and best practices employed in healthcare, and offers the best opportunity for identifying and treating cases promptly and avoiding spread within the facility.”
The decision to halt daily testing also came after it was found that the majority of players who were affected by the recent spike in the Omicron variant appeared asymptomatic after testing positive. During the peak of the spread, from December 12 to January 8, 756 players and 478 staff members tested positive.
