No Positive Tests Among Players in NFL’s Latest Results
In a press release Monday, the NFL announced just six positive tests, and none among players in their most recent battery of COVID-19 testing.
From Aug. 12 to 20, the league administered 58,397 tests, 23,260 of which went to players. All of the positive tests results were of personnel.
Dr. Allen Sills, the NFL’s chief medical officer, says from Aug. 12-20 there were 58,397 tests administered, including 23,260 to players – six confirmed positive tests, zero among players.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) August 24, 2020
Not only is this good news for the league going forward as they march towards the regular season, but the last period’s figures demonstrate that the NFL’s protocols are working, and the players are holding up their end of the bargain. With the league opting against a bubble format, these most recent results show teams and individuals are taking the necessary steps to ensure the 2020 season can be played.
In addition, the significantly low number of positive tests provides some peace of mind following the scare the league had this weekend with its testing contractor BioReference.
Following an elevated number of positive tests over the last few days, BioReference decided to investigate, discovering an “isolated contamination” at their New Jersey laboratory that resulted in 77 false positive tests.
BioReference announced Monday morning that all individual in questions were confirmed to be negative for the virus.
When initial training camp testing yielded low positivity rates, the league and players opted to extend daily testing of Tier 1 and 2 individuals as a precaution. Following this latest round of positive results, it is unclear whether or not they will continue to test every day.
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