After a temporary break, the number of COVID cases in the US is on the rise once again. Rising numbers forced both NBA and NFL to issue new restrictive protocols in the face of the holiday season.
The situation comes as no surprise since the number of new cases reached an average of 118,717 people a day. According to these numbers, the US is facing an increase of 40% compared to the last month.
Despite vaccinating 94.4% of its players, NFL is currently recording a worrying number of infected individuals. Namely, 37 players tested positive last Monday, with another 28 positive cases being confirmed on Tuesday.
Responding to the situation, the NFL reinstated mandatory mask-wearing, social distancing rules, and the number of people allowed to be in a certain space. However, these new rules caused controversy among players. Many protested against canceling and reinstating protocols so often, claiming that the NFL needs to take better care of its players.
On the other hand, NBA issued a memo announcing that mask-wearing will be mandatory during the holiday season, alongside more frequent testings. The Association made an exception for those who received their booster shots, stating that these individuals will not be subjected to frequent testings.
