The number of corona cases in the US football professional league NFL continues to rise sharply. On Monday, another 51 players were included in the COVID protocol, the NFL reported on its website.
There had never been so many positive corona tests on any day before. According to league information, around two thirds of the players are asymptomatic, while the other players who tested positive reported mild symptoms.
Security measures tightened
In the course of the spread of the Omikron variant, the NFL had recently tightened its security measures. As of recently, all players, coaches and employees, regardless of their vaccination status, are required to wear mouth and nose protection, team meetings must take place either outdoors or at a sufficient distance. In addition, players are not allowed to eat in groups; meals are only offered to take away. External visitors are also prohibited from traveling.
Among the players who are new to the Corona list of National Football League came, quarterback also counts Jared Goff of the Detroit Lions, the team around the German-American Amon-Ra St. Brown. Also Kansas City Chiefsstar Travis Kelce, who only made the winning touchdown on Thursday against the Los Angeles Chargers had scored, will be withdrawn from play for the time being due to the league’s health and safety protocol. Just like his teammate Tyreek Hill – that leaves the Chiefs, where other players were added to the list on Tuesday, without their two best passport recipients.
In the meantime only weekly tests
Also because of the good vaccination rate of the NFL teams – at the end of November 94.5 percent among the players and almost 100 percent among coaches and supervisors – the league had only had weekly tests in the meantime.
Since the number of new infections has recently increased massively, the NFL changed its approach and introduced targeted tests for suspected cases. Vaccinated and asymptomatic players no longer have to be in quarantine for at least ten days, as was the case at the beginning of the season.
Weakened Cleveland Browns succumb
They have been weakened for days by the failures of important players Cleveland Brownsthat against the Las Vegas Raiders with the third Quarterback and had to compete without head coach Kevin Stefanski. Regular players Baker Mayfield and his representative Case Keenum had tested positive like their trainer.