The NFL has updated its Covid-19 protocols to speed up the return of players who have been affected by the virus. This move comes in response to an increase in coronavirus cases among League teams.
Regardless of vaccination status, masks will now be mandatory, and meetings will be held either outdoors or online. Team members are also facing restrictions on their activities outside of training facilities. During travel to and from games, teams must refrain from having visitors, and there are limits on the number of people allowed in team weight rooms.
The League emphasized that these changes are based on data and a science-driven approach, with safety being the top priority for the NFL community. Previously, players, coaches, or staff who were vaccinated and sidelined by Covid had to test negative twice within a 24-hour period and be symptom-free before returning. The new rules now allow for quicker return by permitting returners to undergo PCR or Mesa tests, or one of each.
The NFL has also maintained media restrictions, requiring journalists in League facilities to wear masks. Additionally, teams have the option to hold press conferences virtually, a transition that some teams have already made.
