This was almost taken for granted. If in the previous weeks we have learned that the NBA has asked the franchise to vaccinate all its personnel, and in the same way it has communicated to the referees that they must be vaccinated for the beginning of the 2021-22 course, such a requirement will not reach the players, who will continue to keep private if they want to receive the dose against the coronavirus or if they have already done so; Baxter Holmes and Adrian Wojnarowski report from ESPN.
The League thus maintains the route started months ago, leaving each player to decide what to do. It must be clear in any case that the NBA does not have the power to oblige the players, since any decision that concerns them must be discussed with the Players Union by way of negotiation.
In any case, Shams Charania de The Athletic points out that the difference between vaccinated and unvaccinated players is large with respect to the control they must carry. Thus, those who have chosen to receive the vaccine will not have to have regular tests. In the opposite case; that is, those not vaccinated must have a test with a negative result on the days of training or travel; in addition to two other negatives on match days. According to the League, 85% of the players are currently vaccinated.
That is the protocol set by the NBA, but it is that unvaccinated players must also comply with the regulations of their respective geographical areas. Thus, those in New York or San Francisco will not be able to access local facilities or equipment to participate in events, unless they have an approved medical or religious justification. Of course these are changing restrictions, but they are one more example of the difference between being vaccinated or not.
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