It's Official: New COVID Protocols Will See Players Return Quicker

 

The NBA has officially implemented new health and safety protocols that have been in discussion since last week. With new science data, the league will shorten the mandated isolation for vaccinated COVID-positive players to 6 days (down from 10). 

The new protocols were distributed in a memo to teams on Monday. Players or coaches can still test themselves out of quarantine earlier, with two negative PCR tests 24 hours apart (as Trae Young has just done). 

This coincides with the CDC's announcement also on Monday, that people who test positive only need to quarantine for five days. 

Under the new league policy, players who return after six days but then test over a certain threshold or show symptoms up to a 10-day period from their first positive test must then return to the health & safety protocols. 

While NBA says players & Tier 1 personnel can now leave isolation after 6 days, they'll still get tested through 10 days after their initial positive or inconclusive test. If person returns a PCR with a CT value below 30 or gains/regains symptoms, they must go back into isolation

— Mike Vorkunov (@MikeVorkunov) December 27, 2021

The NBA currently (as of Monday) has over 120 players in the league's protocols, as the omicron variant has flooded the country. Teams have been allowed to sign players to "hardship exception" contracts to cover for the missing. 

The move down to just 6 days on health & safety protocols will hopefully help curtail at least some of the roster chaos seen throughout this month. 

These new regulations, of course, only apply to vaccinated players. So Kyrie Irving need not apply. 

Photo Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports