DECEMBER 27: The NBA and NBPA have agreed to adjust the minimum required quarantine period for a vaccinated COVID-positive player to six days, reports Wojnarowski (Twitter links). A player who continues to test positive can be cleared after six days in quarantine if testing data shows he’s no longer at risk of being infectious.
According to Wojnarowski, the new rule – which also applies to coaches – is expected to immediately impact many players currently in the health and safety protocols. That suggests we could see a significant number of players cleared within the next day or two.
DECEMBER 23: The NBA and the National Basketball Players Association are nearing an agreement to reduce the minimum quarantine period for COVID-positive players, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (via Twitter).
Shams Charania of The Athletic (via Twitter) initially reported today that the two sides were engaged in discussions on the subject after commissioner Adam Silver mentioned the possibility during an interview with ESPN earlier in the week.
Currently, the quarantine period for a player who tests positive for COVID-19 is 10 days. However, the league and the players’ union could agree to lower it to as few as six days in certain cases, per Charania and Wojnarowski (Twitter link).
The NBA and NBPA are consulting with their own infectious disease specialists and are studying research models from around the world before finalizing a decision, Wojnarowski explains.
Silver stated in his ESPN appearance on Tuesday that the viral load of a COVID-positive player can be ascertained during the testing process and suggested that it might be safe for such a player to return to action if his viral load drops below a certain threshold, since the risk of transmitting the virus would drop significantly. A player’s vaccination status may also be a factor in determining his required quarantine period.
“I think (medical experts are) already realizing that you can move away from the 10-day protocol when you have players who are vaccinated and boosted,” Silver told ESPN’s Malika Andrews on Tuesday. “It seems that the virus runs through their systems faster. They become not just asymptomatic but – more importantly – they’re not shedding the virus anymore.”
It’s unclear how quickly the new guidelines might go into effect if and when the NBA and NBPA reach an agreement.
The timing is obvious. A number of players who are currently out for the xmas games could potentially return if this is changed. A ton of missing xmas players entered between the 16-20th.
Reducing the time, or even better stop quarantining players is always a good thing, not even testing them if they are vaccinated & asymptomatic is even better… but I am afraid nothing the league can do now will affect Saturdays games apart of the fact no one really cares about 1 particular game out of 82 as a matter of fact!
Today’s biggest rumor
Shaq is dating young lady Tiara Renee.
BullShaq
BullShaq
Even gloom and doom Fauci is taking about not needing as much time if vaccinated. Ask if you are exposedad and test negativity within 3 days you are good to go
Maybe institute Single Combat (think Achilles) until we get Covid under wraps. Best player on each team not in the protocols just goes 1v1 to 11, 1s only, no fouls, make it take it. Best of 3. I’d watch that on Christmas and NYE.
I know I’ve said this before but does it not seem like testing positive for Covid is the least likely way to end up in the protocols? Contact tracing seems to be the majority of the issue right? Am I missing something?
The contact tracing rules are different this season than they were in 2020/21. If a player is deemed to be a close contact, he’ll be tested, but he isn’t automatically put into the protocols like he would’ve been last season.
Thank you!
The Science speaks!
Is there a test to show if your still shedding outside of some fancy lab doing a study? They seem to be implying that once your no longer shedding virus you can return even if still positive, but Im fairly sure that isnt a widely available test.