Why NFL has halted COVID daily testing of unvaccinated players: Explained

The NFL has decided to halt COVID-19 daily testing for unvaccinated players, a memo sent to the 32 clubs and obtained by the Associated Press reveals. The league, however, will continue symptom-based testing and screening for symptoms.

Explaining the reason behind the move, which aligns unvaccinated players with protocols developed for vaccinated players and coaches, the NFL memo said that ‘doctors have seen enough evidence of a decrease in positive tests in the last month to feel comfortable with dropping daily tests’. 

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“The NFL and the players’ union agreed to the change,” the memo read. 

In December 2021, as COVID-19 cases in the US and in the league were on a surge, weekly testing for vaccinated players and personnel was stopped. But anyone who reported symptoms of COVID-19 or was part of targeted surveillance still was subjected to testing.

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“Following consultation with our jointly retained infectious disease experts, the NFL and NFL Players Association have updated the NFL-NFLPA COVID-19 protocols to eliminate the distinction between vaccinated and unvaccinated players to determine testing cadence,” the memo said.

“Effective immediately, all players and tiered staff will be subject to strategic and targeted testing.”

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The league further added that this ‘comprehensive, symptom-based approach to testing reflects our recent experience with the omicron variant and conforms to current public health recommendations and best practices employed in healthcare’. 

“And offers the best opportunity for identifying and treating cases promptly and avoiding spread within the facility.”

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As per NFL’s recent COVID-19 data, 95% of players and nearly 100% of staff members are vaccinated. 

There are only eight teams left in the playoffs, with roughly eight unvaccinated players, a source told ESPN. 

The NFL saw as many as 756 players and 478 staff members testing positive for COVID-19 between December 12 to January 8. A majority were asymptomatic.