The NFL says there are external factors to consider in connection with recent cases of coronavirus in the circuit, including being exposed to it during the holiday season.
There were 21 new positive tests among players and 37 among other staff in the league’s latest round of testing, linked to COVID-19.
The Dr Allen Sills, the league’s chief medical officer, spoke of three potential sources of infection: residences, outpatient medical providers, and community / social settings.
“We have shared this message with all of our clubs and the players’ association,” Sills said Wednesday, noting that the holiday season is not over.
He also mentioned that there has been widespread testing with family members “and as we have seen the numbers increase, the clubs have seen this and have tried to test more family members. ”
Sills and his team led an appeal with all 32 clubs on Tuesday heading into the playoffs, which will feature 14 teams.
Dawn Aponte, the league’s executive director for football operations, stressed that “the protocols will not change. ”
“We also published a note on post-elimination protocols,” she said. They apply for seven days after elimination, and include daily testing and other protocols. At the end of these seven days, the tests become the responsibility of the teams. ”
The NFL played all 240 games scheduled up to and including Week 16. Several were presented later than expected, however, due to issues related to COVID-19.
Aponte described it as “a Herculean effort”.
Of those 240 games, 102 had fans in the stands and the figure of one million spectators was reached last weekend.
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