The NFL has paused all portions of its Covid-19 policies, noting recent patterns that demonstrate the coronavirus is dwindling in its spread.
The league sent a memo to the 32 teams on Thursday, citing “encouraging trends regarding the prevalence and severity of COVID-19, the evolving guidance from the CDC, changes to state law, and the counsel of our respective experts” as reasons for the move, according to an agreement with the players’ association.
The NFL will work with the NFL Players Association to reimpose any portions of the procedures if it finds a justification to do so. According to the document acquired by The Associated Press, teams must comply with state and local regulations and may continue to take “necessary precautions to safeguard their employees and players.”
Players and personnel are no longer required to wear facial coverings at team facilities, regardless of vaccination status, however each club has the option to do so. Social distancing cues are also no longer essential.
Regardless of immunisation status, the league will no longer require players and personnel to undergo obligatory surveillance tests. Only when clinically warranted or at the guidance of a team physician will testing take place.
However, each team must have a facility where anyone who reports symptoms that require testing may be accommodated. Weight room limitations, such as capacity limits, have been removed, however each team is still free to set its own weight room regulations.
Since January 3, tracing devices have not been necessary, and the service is being phased down.
Before entering the team facilities, everyone should continue to monitor for Covid-19 symptoms on a regular basis, according to the league. After a positive test, everyone who tests positive must isolate for five days.
Because of the epidemic, no NFL games were cancelled in the previous two seasons, although several were rescheduled for the 2020 season. According to the league, virtually all of the players and nearly all of the team employees were vaccinated.
