How Well is the NFL Handling COVID-19?
Long before NFL training camps began, the NFL was trying to find a way to deal with COVID-19 through a “virtual football bubble”. With only seven players infected from the little over five-week period from mid-August through mid-September, everything looked pr0mising for the league to play through the pandemic.
During the first part of the season, there have been violations of protocol, positive results and team outbreaks. The question is whether or not this is a matter of holes in the system, team defiance or difficulty enforcing them with thousands of NFL employees.
There is a possibility to enforce an even stricter bubble, and commissioner Roger Goodell believes if protocols are adhered too, the regular season can progress safely. The league has changed protocols, which is an indication that old protocols weren’t effective. The reason for the change likely goes back a month ago when people from the Titans’ organization began testing positive, which has now exceeded 20. It was reported that some players were breaking protocol and convened for workouts instead of self-isolation.
It appears what happened with the Titans showed a glaring how in the protocol, which is that players will be tested daily. Therefore, players and coaches remained in contact with each other an additional day before being tested again, potentially exposing themselves to the virus. Now tests are given on game day to teams that have active infections or have been exposed to those that have.
The positive tests haven’t been isolated to the Titans. Players from at least four other teams, including the Raiders, Chiefs, Falcons and Patriots have also had positive test results.
So far, 14 games involving the Steelers, Titans, Patriots, Chiefs, Bills, Broncos, Jets, Ravens, Jaguars, Chargers, Buccaneers, Raiders, Seahawks and Cardinals have been rescheduled due to COVID-19. That is nearly half the league.
It appears the protocols set into place will work, but it will only work if everyone adheres to them. For the sake of the league moving forward for the rest of the season, all those involved must be serious to prevent the league from being forced to drastically alter scheduling or suspending play.