NBA Expands Health, Safety Guidelines

The NBA has expanded its “Health and Safety Protocol Guide” as it seeks to find ways to limit the impact of COVID-19 on its upcoming season while still allowing the players as much freedom as possible.

As ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski details in a series of tweets, players and staff in their home venues will not be allowed to enter bars, lounge or clubs; live entertainment or gaming venues (with limited exceptions), public gyms, spas or pools; or large indoor social gatherings of 15 or more people.

Traveling teams will be allowed in “approved restaurants” with outdoor seating or a “fully privatized space” indoors. The restaurants that meet those standards will be revealed at a later date.

The NBA will also provide twice-a-week testing for household members of players and staff in order to “enhance their protection throughout the season.”

These additional measures supplement the guidelines unveiled last month, which included protocols regarding testing, working out, practices and housing of players. It also stipulated teams must have additional staff to carry out testing and safety measures.

The league is planning on meting out strong punishments for violations, particularly those that cause schedule changes or impact other teams, Tim Bomtemps of ESPN tweets. Violators are subject to fines, suspensions, adjustment or loss of draft choices, and/or game forfeiture.

The league also spelled out what will happen when COVID-19 vaccines are FDA-approved and deemed safe and effective. At that time, the league and Players Association will decide whether players, coaches and staff will be compelled to get vaccinated. If there is no vaccine requirement, those who don’t receive it may have to follow additional safety measures, Bontemps details in another tweet.

More immediately, players, coaches and staff are being strong urged, though not compelled, to receive a flu vaccination, ESPN’s Zach Lowe tweets.

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