NBA Updating Game Day COVID Testing Protocols

SALT LAKE CITY – The NBA is updating its COVID testing protocols amid the recent outbreak of the Omicron variant that has torn through much of the league.

The changes will apply to the game day protocols for players across the league as the NBA looks to find an equal balance between keeping its teams healthy while also avoiding the suspension of games.

You can see the new requirements that will run from January 16 through February 17 in the chart below.

Below is an overview of the current Covid-19 surveillance testing requirements for NBA players. pic.twitter.com/gm7L994p5d

— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) January 14, 2022

Players who aren’t vaccinated will face the same testing they have throughout the season. Those players will be required to take a Lab-Test on each game day while taking a rapid test on non-game days.

Similarly, players who have been vaccinated and are booster-eligible but have not yet gotten their booster shots will also be required to take game day Lab-Tests and rapid tests on non-game days.

Players who have received their first round of the vaccine in the last two months in the case of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine, or within the last five months in the case of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines will not have to take game day Lab-Tests or daily tests.

Rudy Gobert said he was relatively asymptomatic.

Mostly cold symptoms, no cough, just wanted to stay in bed and said he was feeling good when he got his positive PCR test.

— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) January 14, 2022

Likewise, players who have received their booster shots are also able to skip game day Lab-Tests and rapid tests on non-game days.

Last month the NBA updated its COVID-19 protocols by shortening the number of days players had to miss after testing positive for the virus. Previously the league required a 10-day timeline before players could return to the team which was dropped to six following CDC recommendations.

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