New NBA Vaccination Policy For Fans at Arenas

 

The NBA continues to lay down the law in order to keep its players and arenas as safe as possible for the upcoming season. Insider Shams Charania reports that any fans sitting within 15 feet of the court will have to be fully vaccinated or show a negative Covid-19 test right before the game. 

Fans within 15 feet of the court must be fully vaccinated or return a negative coronavirus test prior to the game. https://t.co/B9Q38xqWNn

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) September 1, 2021

Late last week, the league also mandated that all personnel who come into contact with players be fully vaccinated. This includes coaches, referees and all other team personnel. Game day personnel are required to wear masks. There is, however, no vaccination mandate for the players themselves.

The new ruling was made necessary as the NBA is going back to regular team bench seating for the 2021-22 season; i.e. no more distanced or cool-down seating. 

The NBA season begins on October 19th, with a full 82-game schedule for the first time in three seasons. The 2020-21 season featured only 72 games, and 21 games were postponed due to Covid-19 issues, generally when teams could not field the required minimum 8 players. Many teams played other games extremely shorthanded. 

Adam Silver is doing everything in his power to ensure that the coming season avoid those issues, and goes off as smoothly as possible. 

Photo Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports