Eight National Football League (NFL) teams have arrived at their 85% threshold of the COVID-19 vaccinations. This is the threshold mandated by the league, allowing them to open training camps with fewer restrictions.

The NFL Network, in their report, said an eighth team had reached that target on Tuesday. However, the league is yet to identify the teams who have reached the threshold.

According to media reports, NFL senior reporter Albert Breer had shared in June that Miami Dolphins and New Orleans Saints are two of the reported seven teams that reached the threshold. 

Another media report suggested that 71% of players have had at least one shot of a COVID-19 vaccine. July 12 was the deadline for players to get vaccinated in order to avoid restrictions. 

For the players who are yet to be vaccinated, they will be tested daily for the coronavirus infection and it will be compulsory for them to wear masks. They will also be subjected to social distancing restrictions, limiting the number of people in rooms. This will mean for them to not be able to eat in team cafeterias.

In June, the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) said that 99% of its players are fully vaccinated. 

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data, 68% of American adults have at least been partly vaccinated, and 59% of adults are fully vaccinated.

This comes at a time when the COVID cases in the States are rapidly rising with the contagious Delta variant wreaking havoc.

The seven-day average of new cases was 13,859 as of July 6, up 21% compared to two weeks earlier, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), AFP reported.

According to the CDC, the spike came as the Delta variant accounted for around 52% of cases in the two weeks ending July 3.

Earlier, President Joe Biden missed his goal of having 70% of adults at least partly vaccinated by Independence Day.