AsylumGuido

NFL tells teams to have facility reopening protocols in place by May 15

Kevin Seifert
ESPN Staff Writer

The NFL laid out protocols Wednesday for the gradual reopening of team facilities, a process that would begin with select staff members and eventually expand to include players, according to a memo commissioner Roger Goodell sent to all 32 teams that was obtained by ESPN.

Team facilities have been closed since March due to the coronavirus pandemic. But as state and local governments begin easing restrictions, the league wants teams to be ready to implement the first phase of protocols by May 15.

At that point, Goodell said teams can expect to be advised when their facilities can reopen. The memo made no mention of a previous NFL policy that said no facilities could open until all 32 facilities are eligible to do so, raising the possibility of staggered reopenings around the league. NFL owners are expected to have further discussions of reopening facilities, and their approach moving forward, during their May 19 virtual league meeting.

According to the memo, the first group of employees allowed back into facilities would include no more than 50% of non-player staff, and up to a total of 75 per day. The only players permitted to return would be those who were already rehabilitating injuries prior to the facility closures.

Upon reopening facilities, teams must also, as outlined by Goodell:

• Receive consent from state and local governments.

• Acquire enough cleaning and other supplies.

• Create an infection-response team that includes doctors and team athletic trainers.

• Designate an infection control officer (ICO) to be the first point of contact for any employee who displays coronavirus symptoms.

• Provide coronavirus safety and hygiene training to all employees who will return to the facility.

Face coverings and physical distancing of at least 6 feet will be required for all employees. Gloves also will be "highly recommended," according to the memo. The ICO would provide information on coronavirus testing "for suspected new cases."

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“The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.” — Winston Churchill

halloween 65

Will be interesting to watch when this virus rears it's head during the fall. What then?

Halo

BIG question we don't have the answer to, yet.

SmashMouth

Covid-22 by then?

OldMaid

How will this work in training camps?
It is nice written there on paper.
You can have work outs and drills in groups of 10.
At my gym, no more in than 10 members at a time which is working out because many people are not returning right now.
You cannot workout with your face ( nose, mouth covered) in no kind of covering .
A health fitness instructor just told me yesterday to beware of that. You breathe in oxygen and then breathe in your own carbon dioxide with your face ( nose, mouth) covered. See hypercapnia.
I just went to my gym and said I stayed an hour , light , slow workout, very slow with my mask on and garden gloves too.
I am not going to wear a mask at the gym as I increase my workout.
Now for NFL players, at training camp, normally some of them need to get the oxygen mask on at times.

I am not being a negative. I am just wondering. Everything is being debated on the “ how” with ideas just thrown up to figure it out.
It is like the school system. How is this going to work out?

AsylumGuido

They won't have those limitations, OM, because they'll be being tested regularly and under a much more controlled environment than with public facilities. Things are opening more more anyway. I just had my esthetician visit for the first time in six months. I'm also ready to get more tattoo art done (if I can convince the wife).