Football News

NFL, NFLPA reach agreement on COVID-19 testing

July 20, 2020
Zach Lyons
2 Comments

As first reported by ProFootballTalk.com, the NFL and NFLPA have finally reached an agreement on providing daily tests for COVID-19. A full 24 hours after several NFL Superstars started a Twitter campaign using the hashtag #WeWantToPlay.

Tom Pelissero, who has been a great follow for the ongoing negotiations, broke down what you should know about the daily testing. Here are the details:

The daily testing

  • Daily testing will be conducted for the first two weeks of training camp
  • They will then look at positivity rates from those first two weeks
  • If the positivity rates fall below 5%, they’ll move to testing every other day.
  • All players and Tier 1/Tier 2 employees will be tested.
  • Players will need multiple negative tests before they’re allowed back in the building for physicals or team activities.
  • Test results should be back within 24 hours.

What happens if there is a positive test

  • If a player tests positive but is asymptomatic, he can return to the facility after…
    • 10 days have passed since testing positive, OR…
    • Two consecutive negative tests, at least 24 hours apart, within five days of the initial positive test.
  • If a player tests positive and has symptoms, he must wait at least 10 days since the positive test, and at least 72 hours since last showing signs of symptoms.

Coming into contact with someone who has symptoms

  • Close contact with a person who has symptoms will results in an immediate test, and that person will be isolated as soon as possible.
  • If the test is negative, the person may return to the facility, but will be tested more frequently.
  • Close contact with a person who tests positive for COVID-19 will need two negative tests at least 24 hours apart before they can return.

The NFL also contracted with a national lab to make sure they’re not taking away any resources from the local communities.

Today, both the NHL and NBA announced their testing results. Over on the NHL side, they had 800 players tested, and only two test positive. The NBA just announced the following:

It’s definitely been a Good News Monday for sports all around. I for one am very excited to the see this trend continue.

Today has been a huge step in the right direction for us being able to have a full 16-game NFL season. There are still the economic hurdles that have to be jumped before we can be 100% happy fans, but I for one am glad we got this part done.

The only question I have is: what took the NFL so long?

What are your thoughts on the negotiations? Are we having a full season of games? Leave your thoughts and comments below!

Author: Zach LyonsWith over 17 years experience of losing Fantasy Football games, Zach has been a Titans fan since moving to Nashville in 2002. A die-hard Alabama fan, but he doesn't let that cloud his judgement of the Elite Players they have put in the NFL. Players like Derrick Henry, Julio Jones, and AJ McCarron. You've heard him on Football & Other F Words giving his Unfiltered Opinions as facts and that won't change. He's always 100% right even if he has to revise earlier statements. Lawyered.

Comments

  1. I think we will for sure see the full 16 game season. Definitely will be a little different than what we are used to. I know that if we don’t, it’ll be a personal pandemic for me. Regardless, glad that the NFL and NFLPA are working together to make sure we get to see some ball played. Getting fans to a game seems a bit like a luxury to me right now but there’s always hope. As long as there is a pigskin getting tossed around on weekends, I’m happy.

    1. I am super interested in the economics side of this. I think the numbers from the NHL and NBA are a good sign moving forward for the NFL. Sure the NFL could have totally different positivity rates, but I think players will be extra cautious!

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