NFL, NFLPA Agree To Continue Daily COVID-19 Testing Through September 5
Aug 12, 2020, 1:25 PM
Quarterback Kyler Murray #1 and head coach Kliff Kingsbury of the Arizona Cardinals on the field during a team training camp at State Farm Stadium on August 12, 2020 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The NFL and its Players Association “reached an agreement” to continue daily testing for the coronavirus disease, COVID-19, through September 5.
The two parties came to the agreement on Wednesday, August 12, according to a social media post by the players’ union.
“We will continue to monitor positivity rates within each club and relevant information from each team community to inform our assessment of testing frequency ahead of the regular season,” the NFLPA tweeted.
We have reached an agreement with the @NFL to continue daily testing through September 5th. We will continue to monitor positivity rates within each club and relevant information from each team community to inform our assessment of testing frequency ahead of the regular season.
— NFLPA (@NFLPA) August 12, 2020
The decision to continue daily testing is an extension of an agreement from July 20, in which the NFL and NFLPA announced that daily testing would take place through the first two weeks of training camp.
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“There’s no finish line with health and safety and I think these protocols are very much living and breathing documents, which means they will change as we gain new knowledge about this virus, as we gain new knowledge about transmission, as we gain new knowledge about testing and there are new tests and new techniques that come online,” Dr. Allen Sills, the NFL chief medical officer said in July. “We very much anticipate that these protocols will change.”
56 players have tested positive for the virus since reporting to training camps and 107 players in total have tested positive for COVID-19 during the 2020 offseason as of August 5.
66 players opted out of playing during the upcoming season as of the league’s deadline to decide on playing in 2020.
Reminder: the deadline to opt out of the 2020 season is tomorrow at 4pm ET. pic.twitter.com/fgVLutWvJ3
— NFLPA (@NFLPA) August 5, 2020
The 2020 NFL season is currently scheduled to kick-off when the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs host the Houston Texans on Thursday, September 10.
Coronavirus Resources
- Have you or a family member been affected by coronavirus issues in Utah? KSL TV wants to hear from you. Contact KSL by emailing social@ksl.com.
- What is COVID-19? Here’s What You Need To Know To Stay Healthy
- What We Know And Don’t Know About The Coronavirus
- Four Common Coronavirus Questions Answered
- The latest coronavirus stories from KSL TV can be found at our Staying Safe: Coronavirus section.
- Your Life Your Health: How can parents prepare their home, children against coronavirus?
How Do I Prevent It?
The CDC has some simple recommendations, most of which are the same for preventing other respiratory illnesses or the flu:
- Avoid close contact with people who may be sick
- Avoid touching your face
- Stay home when you are sick
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue and then throw the tissue in the trash
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, and after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing. Always wash your hands with soap and water if your hands are visibly dirty.
- If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
How To Get Help
If you’re worried you may have COVID-19, you can contact the Utah Coronavirus Information Line at 1-800-456-7707 to speak to trained healthcare professionals. You can also use telehealth services through your healthcare providers.
Additional Resources
If you see evidence of PRICE GOUGING, the Utah Attorney General’s Office wants you to report it. Common items in question include toilet paper, water, hand sanitizer, certain household cleaners, and even cold medicine and baby formula. Authorities are asking anyone who sees price gouging to report it to the Utah Division of Consumer Protection at 801-530-6601 or 800-721-7233. The division can also be reached by email at consumerprotection@utah.gov.
