The NFL this week experienced a sudden wave in covid-19 cases with around 100 players testing positive since Monday. This makes a record number of cases for the season.
Many of those who tested positive are vaccinated, two-thirds of them are asymptomatic and the rest have very mild symptoms.
NFL chief medical officer Dr. Allen Sills attributed part of this week’s surge to the omicron variant, which he said has been detected in test results for multiple teams. Stills also said that immunity among vaccinated players has likely dwindled, which an antibody study of 572 NFL staff members recently revealed.
“We have a lot of people in the NFL that have fairly low level of antibodies even though they are fully vaccinated,” Sills said.
To get ahead of the curve, the league is figuring out the next steps which include enhanced protocols, a greater reliance on Zoom and giving teams roster flexibility in the postseason. The league is also encouraging booster shots and mandating them for coaches and other football staff members. Players are not required to be vaccinated or boosted, however, it is encouraged. The NFL and union are also discussing other protocols including a return to daily testing for all players, whether vaccinated or unvaccinated, and the return of masking, social distancing and virtual meetings within team facilities.
“We’re doing what we’ve always done,” Sills said. “We’re evaluating what we’re doing and looking at the effectiveness of our strategies and measuring it against our outcomes.”
Currently, seven teams are in enhanced protocols. As of now, there had been no discussion about postponing any games, per Commissioner Roger Goodell.
