Amid Delta variant and with almost 50% of NFL positive COVID-19 tests among vaccinated players and staff, union calls for daily testing for all - cleveland.com
BEREA, Ohio — In light of the surging Delta variant and the fact that almost 50% of positive COVID-19 tests in the NFL occurred among vaccinated players and staff in the first week of training camp, the NFLPA will recommend to the NFL daily testing of vaccinated players and staff, same as for the unvaccinated, according to a memo obtained by cleveland.com.
Currently, vaccinated players and staff only have to be covid tested every two weeks. The NFL has no mandate for players, but has placed severe restrictions on the unvaccinated.
In addition, the NFLPA is recommending reducing the number of tiered staff allowed into the locker room.
The memo states that although vaccines have shown a greater than 80% effectiveness against all variants, “vaccinated people can both contract and spread the Delta variant.’’
The union emphasizes that “based on the guidance of our medical experts and what we know about this new variant, this is the best defense we have to prevent infections and protect you and your families, while also executing a full season. We will recommend BRL PCR testing for vaccinated staff and players each day you/they enter the facility, the goal of which is to detect positive cases quickly and prevent the spread of the virus.
“You will not have to wait for a test result and we will NOT recommend testing on your off days or bye week.’’
It states that “based on our experience from last year, the number of positive tests in the first week of training camp (data below) is cause for concern.’’
In a conference call a few hours after the NFLPA memo was sent to players, NFL Chief Medical Officer Dr. Allen Sills said on a conference call that the league will remain flexible with COVID protocols, but is not in favor of the daily testing for vaccinated players and staffers that the union wants.
The NFLPA memo says that “we have tested 2,528 players and 4,549 staff since training camps began (July 25th-August 1st) and have had more than 65 positive cases. 32 of these cases are among vaccinated individuals (again, while vaccines lower the risk of infection, they do not prevent infection; they are proven to prevent serious illness and death).’'
But Sills counters that many of the vaccinated individuals who have tested positive are asymptomatic and the rest exhibiting only mild symptoms and some have returned in less than 10 days. “No one has been seriously ill,’' he said.
The union argues that asymptomatic vaccinated players can spread the Delta variant as easily as as unvaccinated players/
“These ‘breakthrough’ cases are consistent with what our COVID Taskforce and the CDC have learned about the Delta variant in recent weeks, This Delta variant is NEW and is 50% more contagious than the original strain of the coronavirus,’' the NFLPA memo read. “Individuals infected with Delta can also spread the virus to more people, spreading it to 5-9 people as opposed to the 2-3 with the original virus.’’
Browns linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah is one of the unvaccinated players who tested positive and was activated off COVID-19 reserve on Tuesday. He said he remained asymptomatic throughout his 10-day quarantine.
The memo adds that “we have had two outbreaks inside club facilities (Atlanta and Miami) in the first week of training camp this year when we had no team facility transmission until week 3 last year. We have consistently stated that football will go the way of our communities, and multiple cities and states are experiencing record surges in infections and hospitalizations due to the Delta variant.’’
It stated that “in the event of an apparent virus spread among a club, masking may be required for all players and staff, regardless of vaccination status. This is similar to the intensive protocols last year and designed to prevent an outbreak. We will report back to you after we discuss with the NFL.’'
Some NFL players got vaccinated so they didn’t have to be tested every day or follow other strict protocols.
“Was basically forced into getting the vaccine. Now I’m just confused. @NFLPA,’' Bears tight end Jimmy Graham posted on Twitter.
The union makes it clear that it had to pivot throughout last season to adjust to the changing COVID-19 landscape.
“Last year, our NFLPA COVID Taskforce, staff and player leadership worked together to recommend a game plan for how we would play a full season while also keeping everyone as safe as possible,’’ it read. “We had to adjust that plan throughout the year given what we learned about the virus, and we achieved our goals thanks to your flexibility, understanding and dedication to the protocols.’’
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