The NBA and the Players Association (NBPA) announced on Tuesday an agreement to implement additional measures “in response to the growth of COVID-19 cases” that they are living today and that they are forcing the league to postpone matches, including prohibiting players from leaving their homes for non-sporting activities for “at least the next two weeks.”
Thus, the league indicated in a statement that “For at least the next two weeks, players and team personnel must remain at their residence at all times, except to attend team-related activities in the facilities of the same or in the stadium, to exercise outdoors or carry out essential activities, or as a result of extraordinary circumstances “.
“Interactions outside of work are limited to those with household members, family members, and any staff who regularly work at home.”added the NBA, which clarified that when the franchises are outside their cities, it is forbidden for any of its components to leave their hotel or “interact with guests” who do not belong to the team.
Furthermore, also for at least the next 14 days, “Any pre-match meeting in the locker room is limited to no more than 10 minutes in length and all attendees must wear a mask “while the rest” must continue to occur on the court, in a league approved space, or at the stadium in a room large enough to provide at least 1.8m of distance between individuals “and always with the use of the mask” at all times “.
‘Minibubbles’ to avoid direct contacts
Teams must also distribute seats on their flights according to how the players feel “closer” to the bench and on match days “players are prohibited from arriving at the stadium more than three hours before kick-off.” Likewise, before and after games, the NBA asks “to avoid prolonged socialization”, and emphasizes the mandatory nature of the mask when on the bench, with the coaches and the rest of the ‘staff’ using it “at all times during the matches”.
Finally, in terms of testing, the NBA and the players’ union have agreed that “any individual who regularly visits the interior of a player’s home or team staff member for a professional purpose must undergo COVID-19 testing two times a week. “
“For any team with a positive case or a high-risk staff member case, the NBA may require players and team personnel to undergo five consecutive days of laboratory testing twice daily., in addition to the daily control, “the league ruled, highlighting that this protocol” may be further modified during the season, as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic evolves. “
The NBA was forced to postpone another meeting due to the coronavirus, the one that had to face the Boston Celtics, one of the most affected teams, on Wednesday against the Orlando Magic, since Brad Stevens’ men do not have the minimum number of eight players needed to play it.
