NFL stops daily COVID testing for unvaccinated players

• The updated guidance applies to approximately a dozen unvaccinated players, NFL spokesperson Brian McCarthy said.
• The remaining players are on testing holiday, which refers to an individual who tests positive and doesn't need to take a COVID-19 test for 90 days.
• All players and tiered staff will be subject to "targeted surveillance testing" and "enhanced symptom screening," per the memo.

The big picture: It's the NFL's latest change to its coronavirus protocols after the league announced in December that coaches, team personnel and front office staff in Tier 1 and 2 were required to receive COVID-19 booster shots.

• The league on Dec. 28 also shortened its recommended isolation time for players who test positive for the virus in line with the updated Center for Disease Control and Prevention's guidance.

What they're saying: "This comprehensive, symptom-based approach to testing, reflects our recent experience with the Omicron variant and conforms to current public health recommendations and best practices employed in health care," McCarthy said.

• The guidance "offers the best opportunity for identifying and treating cases promptly and avoiding spread within the facility," he added.

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