NFL, players union agree on coronavirus testing protocol

The NFL And the NFLPA have agreed on the league’s coronavirus testing protocol.

The two sides have agreed on daily testing for the virus over the course of two weeks.

Dr. Allen Sills, the NFL chief medical officer, said more than one negative test is required before players initially enter the building to begin physical exams or any form of team activity.

After two weeks of daily testing, if the positivity rate of those tests falls below 5% among players and Tier I and Tier II individuals, as described in previously NFL protocols, testing would go to every other day.

If the positivity rate doesn’t fall below that threshold, daily testing would continue until it drops.

“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,” Sills said. “We very much anticipate that these protocols will change.”

A memo that just went out outlining COVID-19 testing pic.twitter.com/RnJHRXQOKA

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) July 20, 2020

The agreement comes after numerous NFL players, including Arizona Cardinals wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins and quarterback Kyler Murray, took to social media over the weekend to voice their concerns over the NFL’s lack of a safety plan with training camp set to begin this week for many of the athletes.

Do y’all want to see this??

Before players can go back to work the @NFL needs to address the health and safety concerns from their own experts so we can remain healthy. If you want the @AZCardinals to have a full season this year help us by telling the @NFL! #WeWantToPlay pic.twitter.com/CErsyZJb1A

— Deandre Hopkins (@DeAndreHopkins) July 19, 2020

NFLPA VP Sam Acho echoed the players’ sentiment while on with Arizona Sports’ Doug & Wolf on Monday.

“The biggest message that was said over the weekend in the #WeWantToPlay initiative is the reality that we really do want to play. I think it’s as simple as that,” Acho said.

“Players want to play football, it’s as simple as that. We want to play in a safe environment, an environment that we’re going to make sure we aren’t spreading Covid, we’re not getting Covid or at least minimizing that risk.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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