The NBA and National Basketball Players Association will likely reduce the 10-day quarantine mandate in place for players who test positive for COVID-19.
This new agreement would see to it that players are back to work in six days, depending on the cycle threshold. Under the current plan, any player experiencing moderate to severe symptoms can’t exercise with the team for at least ten days following symptom onset. They are also required to go through cardiac screening before being cleared. Players with minor symptoms are unable to practice for at least seven days after the onset of symptoms. After a positive test, asymptomatic players cannot exercise for three days. All players have to be medically cleared by a team and league doctor before they can resume games with their team. Players with moderate or severe symptoms are then monitored by a cardiologist for a short while after.
Details surrounding the new expected set of rules are scarce, but it appears that they are set to go into effect soon in preparation for the Christmas Day games.
On Tuesday, NBA commissioner Adam Silver revealed that the league was “actively looking at” adjusting the default quarantine period for players who have taken the COVID-19 booster shots. However, this adjustment would only apply to players who are asymptomatic and not contagious.
As of Tuesday evening, at least 84 players from 20 teams have been placed in COVID-19 protocols, pending negative tests.
