NBA Calls For Vaccination Of All Staff Within 15 Feet Of Players & More... - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Old School · 08-27-2021, 10:51 PM

ESPN https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/...2021-22-season

NBA calls for COVID-19 vaccination for most staff for 2021-22 season

The NBA informed teams Friday that all personnel under team control who work within 15 feet of players or referees during games will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 for the upcoming season, according to a memo obtained by ESPN.

The directive specifically includes coaches, front-office members and trainers but stops short of requiring all players to be vaccinated. Leaguewide vaccination of players is subject to negotiations with the National Basketball Players Association.

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The NBA has set an Oct. 1 deadline for team personnel to be fully vaccinated and left open the possibility that it could require a booster shot at a later date, according to the memo.

The mandate applies to all personnel who will work near the court, including broadcasters, scoreboard operators, photographers and security personnel. Also required are all back-of-house operations, including locker room attendants, medical staff, equipment managers, and food and beverage handlers and providers.

Old School · 09-01-2021, 02:02 AM

ESPN https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/...d-virus-season

NBA to require referees to be vaccinated against COVID-19 this season

NBA referees will all be vaccinated against the coronavirus this season.

The NBA announced Saturday that it has struck a deal with the National Basketball Referees Association on that requirement. Part of the referees' agreement with the NBA also says that those working games will receive booster shots once they become recommended.

The NBRA voting on the issue took place earlier this week.

"This agreement was a win-win," the NBRA said in a statement. "It will support the NBA's objective of creating a safer on-court environment and continuity of play while protecting the health and well-being of the referees."

The referees also described the move as a "clear example of when labor and management work together for the common good of their collective business."

The NBA's agreement with the referees was revealed one day after the league told its teams that anyone within close proximity - defined in most cases as being 15 feet - of players and referees will also have to be vaccinated. That mandate covers, among others, coaches, support staff traveling with teams, locker room attendants and those working at official scorer's tables in NBA arenas.

Players are not required to be fully vaccinated, though many were last season after the league encouraged them to do so by agreeing to relax some health and safety protocols for those who were - including fewer mandated coronavirus tests, no quarantine requirements following contact tracing issues and more freedoms on road trips.

As is the case with team employees, any referees who have a documented medical or religious reason to not be vaccinated may seek an exemption. Without that exemption, any unvaccinated referee will not be eligible to work games, the NBA said.

Referees have been dealing with enhanced safety measures since NBA play resumed in the restart bubble at Walt Disney World in Florida in July 2020, including having small cloth bags over their whistles to prevent the spewing of spittle and changes in how - and how often - they travel.

NBA training camps open in late September.

Old School · 09-02-2021, 05:20 AM

ESPN https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/...-nba-memo-says

Vaccine requirements specific to New York City and San Francisco will be enforced for teams in those cities, NBA memo says

The NBA informed teams that recently issued laws in both New York City and San Francisco about vaccine requirements will be enforced -- including for players -- for members of the New York Knicks, Brooklyn Nets and Golden State Warriors unless there is an approved medical or religious exemption from taking part in them, according to a memo obtained by ESPN on Wednesday.

Both cities recently passed laws requiring some level of COVID-19 vaccination in various settings.

In New York, beginning on Sept. 13, anyone over the age of 12 won't be allowed to enter "certain covered premises" inside the city -- including Barclays Center, home of the Nets, Madison Square Garden, home of the Knicks, as well as any other indoor gym or fitness setting -- without providing proof of at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, unless there is an approved medical or religious exemption for them not doing so.

In San Francisco, beginning Oct. 13, everyone over the age of 12 must show proof of being fully vaccinated before entering any large-scale event -- including NBA games at Chase Center -- as well as any indoor gyms or other fitness facilities, again unless there is an approved medical or religious exemption for them not doing so.

These laws apply only to players on the Knicks, Nets and Warriors and not to members of visiting teams coming to play those clubs. The reason for that is the laws in both New York City and San Francisco have exemptions for out-of-town teams coming to those cities to play games. Those exemptions, however, do not exist for the home teams in those cities.

In the memo, the NBA said that by Friday, all 30 NBA teams will have had to deliver the information to every player on their roster who isn't fully vaccinated, and that they'll have to inform the league office specifically which players are not yet fully vaccinated. It also states that, moving forward, if a team signs a player who isn't fully vaccinated, it must tell the player this information and inform the league that it has done so.

The league stated that similar vaccination requirements could come under consideration in other NBA markets, and it is possible that some of them -- unlike New York and San Francisco -- could also consider vaccine requirements for visiting teams. And the league said there could be other restrictions for unvaccinated players, pointing out that in Toronto, it expects unvaccinated players to be able to play in games -- as long as they have a negative COVID-19 test -- but that they won't interact with people outside of their team's travel party, nor will they be able to leave their hotel beyond going to practices or games.

The Athletic first reported the news of the memo's existence.

ESPN has previously reported that the league had informed teams in a memo last week that all personnel under team control who work within 15 feet of players or referees during games will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 for the upcoming season.

The directive specifically included coaches, front-office members and trainers, but stopped short of requiring all players to be vaccinated.

Leaguewide vaccination of players is subject to negotiations with the National Basketball Players Association.

The NBA has set an Oct. 1 deadline for team personnel to be fully vaccinated and left open the possibility that it could require a booster shot at a later date. The mandate applies to all personnel who will work near the court, including broadcasters, scoreboard operators, photographers and security personnel. Also required to be vaccinated are all back-of-house operations, including locker room attendants, medical staff, equipment managers and food and beverage handlers and providers.

NBA training camps open Sept. 28. The regular season begins Oct. 19.

In a separate memo sent out to teams Wednesday, and also obtained by ESPN, the league highlighted some preliminary arena operations protocols for the upcoming season. The memo states that the protocols are not yet finalized and that a set of final ones are expected to be circulated in mid-September.

As it stands, the preliminary protocols state that home and visiting team benches, along with the home, visiting and referee locker rooms, are expected to return to the 2019-20 seating arrangement. During the pandemic, teams provided cool-down chairs and non-bench staff seats were physically distanced from team benches.

Teams were also asked to potentially plan to assign non-fully vaccinated players to lockers that "are as distanced from other players as possible, and for the closest other players to be fully vaccinated (i.e., to avoid putting any non-full-vaccinated players in adjacent lockers)," the memo states. It is anticipated that all game-day personnel will be required to wear face masks at least at the outset of the season, the memo states.

Further, the memo states that, as the season approaches, it's currently anticipated that fans ages 2 and older who are seated in or with access to areas that are within 15 feet of players -- such as the court, locker rooms, the back of the bench or scorer's table, among others areas -- be required to either be fully vaccinated or return a negative test result prior to the game. Negative test results could come either from a PCR test taken two days before the game or an approved rapid test sampled on the day of the game, the memo states.

Old School · 09-03-2021, 03:07 AM

HoopsRumors https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2021/09/...d-players.html

The NBA’s proposed health and safety protocols for the upcoming season will have much different requirements for vaccinated and unvaccinated players, according to Brian Windhorst and Tim Bontemps of ESPN https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/...inated-players .

The new rules, which are still being negotiated with the players union, are outlined in a memo the league sent to its teams. They would require players who have not gotten the vaccine to have their lockers as far away as possible from vaccinated teammates. They will also be placed in separate sections during meals, flights and bus rides.

Vaccinated players would no longer be required to have daily tests for the virus and will only be subject to testing if they exhibit symptoms or are exposed to someone who has tested positive. Their unvaccinated counterparts must be tested on any days with games or practices and may have to be tested twice on some days.

Those who haven’t been vaccinated will still be subject to a mandatory seven-day quarantine if they have close contact with a person who tests positive. Vaccinated players likely won’t have to deal with a quarantine as long as they don’t return a positive test.

Unvaccinated players won’t be permitted to sit with their unvaccinated teammates and must be at least six feet away during meals and team meetings. During team flights, the unvaccinated may have to sit in a section of the plane with staff members, and on bus trips, they will have to be separated from other players and may be required to take a separate bus.

Some of the restrictions may be relaxed for unvaccinated players who have recovered from the virus within the past six months, Windhorst and Bontemps add. The NBA also hopes to have all players tested for COVID-19 antibodies during their preseason physicals.

09-01-2021, 02:02 AM	#2
Old School Member Senior Member Join Date: Apr 28, 2020 Location: Earth Posts: 2,137	NBRA Agree To Vaccination Clause ESPN https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/...d-virus-season *NBA to require referees to be vaccinated against COVID-19 this season* NBA referees will all be vaccinated against the coronavirus this season. The NBA announced Saturday that it has struck a deal with the National Basketball Referees Association on that requirement. Part of the referees' agreement with the NBA also says that those working games will receive booster shots once they become recommended. The NBRA voting on the issue took place earlier this week. "This agreement was a win-win," the NBRA said in a statement. "It will support the NBA's objective of creating a safer on-court environment and continuity of play while protecting the health and well-being of the referees." The referees also described the move as a "clear example of when labor and management work together for the common good of their collective business." The NBA's agreement with the referees was revealed one day after the league told its teams that anyone within close proximity - defined in most cases as being 15 feet - of players and referees will also have to be vaccinated. That mandate covers, among others, coaches, support staff traveling with teams, locker room attendants and those working at official scorer's tables in NBA arenas. Players are not required to be fully vaccinated, though many were last season after the league encouraged them to do so by agreeing to relax some health and safety protocols for those who were - including fewer mandated coronavirus tests, no quarantine requirements following contact tracing issues and more freedoms on road trips. As is the case with team employees, any referees who have a documented medical or religious reason to not be vaccinated may seek an exemption. Without that exemption, any unvaccinated referee will not be eligible to work games, the NBA said. Referees have been dealing with enhanced safety measures since NBA play resumed in the restart bubble at Walt Disney World in Florida in July 2020, including having small cloth bags over their whistles to prevent the spewing of spittle and changes in how - and how often - they travel. NBA training camps open in late September.

09-02-2021, 05:20 AM	#3
Old School Member Senior Member Join Date: Apr 28, 2020 Location: Earth Posts: 2,137	Knicks, Warriors & Nets Have To Follow Local COVID Guidelines... ESPN https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/...-nba-memo-says *Vaccine requirements specific to New York City and San Francisco will be enforced for teams in those cities, NBA memo says* The NBA informed teams that recently issued laws in both New York City and San Francisco about vaccine requirements will be enforced -- including for players -- for members of the New York Knicks, Brooklyn Nets and Golden State Warriors unless there is an approved medical or religious exemption from taking part in them, according to a memo obtained by ESPN on Wednesday. Both cities recently passed laws requiring some level of COVID-19 vaccination in various settings. In New York, beginning on Sept. 13, anyone over the age of 12 won't be allowed to enter "certain covered premises" inside the city -- including Barclays Center, home of the Nets, Madison Square Garden, home of the Knicks, as well as any other indoor gym or fitness setting -- without providing proof of at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, unless there is an approved medical or religious exemption for them not doing so. In San Francisco, beginning Oct. 13, everyone over the age of 12 must show proof of being fully vaccinated before entering any large-scale event -- including NBA games at Chase Center -- as well as any indoor gyms or other fitness facilities, again unless there is an approved medical or religious exemption for them not doing so. These laws apply only to players on the Knicks, Nets and Warriors and not to members of visiting teams coming to play those clubs. The reason for that is the laws in both New York City and San Francisco have exemptions for out-of-town teams coming to those cities to play games. Those exemptions, however, do not exist for the home teams in those cities. In the memo, the NBA said that by Friday, all 30 NBA teams will have had to deliver the information to every player on their roster who isn't fully vaccinated, and that they'll have to inform the league office specifically which players are not yet fully vaccinated. It also states that, moving forward, if a team signs a player who isn't fully vaccinated, it must tell the player this information and inform the league that it has done so. The league stated that similar vaccination requirements could come under consideration in other NBA markets, and it is possible that some of them -- unlike New York and San Francisco -- could also consider vaccine requirements for visiting teams. And the league said there could be other restrictions for unvaccinated players, pointing out that in Toronto, it expects unvaccinated players to be able to play in games -- as long as they have a negative COVID-19 test -- but that they won't interact with people outside of their team's travel party, nor will they be able to leave their hotel beyond going to practices or games. The Athletic first reported the news of the memo's existence. ESPN has previously reported that the league had informed teams in a memo last week that all personnel under team control who work within 15 feet of players or referees during games will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 for the upcoming season. The directive specifically included coaches, front-office members and trainers, but stopped short of requiring all players to be vaccinated. Leaguewide vaccination of players is subject to negotiations with the National Basketball Players Association. The NBA has set an Oct. 1 deadline for team personnel to be fully vaccinated and left open the possibility that it could require a booster shot at a later date. The mandate applies to all personnel who will work near the court, including broadcasters, scoreboard operators, photographers and security personnel. Also required to be vaccinated are all back-of-house operations, including locker room attendants, medical staff, equipment managers and food and beverage handlers and providers. NBA training camps open Sept. 28. The regular season begins Oct. 19. In a separate memo sent out to teams Wednesday, and also obtained by ESPN, the league highlighted some preliminary arena operations protocols for the upcoming season. The memo states that the protocols are not yet finalized and that a set of final ones are expected to be circulated in mid-September. As it stands, the preliminary protocols state that home and visiting team benches, along with the home, visiting and referee locker rooms, are expected to return to the 2019-20 seating arrangement. During the pandemic, teams provided cool-down chairs and non-bench staff seats were physically distanced from team benches. Teams were also asked to potentially plan to assign non-fully vaccinated players to lockers that "are as distanced from other players as possible, and for the closest other players to be fully vaccinated (i.e., to avoid putting any non-full-vaccinated players in adjacent lockers)," the memo states. It is anticipated that all game-day personnel will be required to wear face masks at least at the outset of the season, the memo states. Further, the memo states that, as the season approaches, it's currently anticipated that fans ages 2 and older who are seated in or with access to areas that are within 15 feet of players -- such as the court, locker rooms, the back of the bench or scorer's table, among others areas -- be required to either be fully vaccinated or return a negative test result prior to the game. Negative test results could come either from a PCR test taken two days before the game or an approved rapid test sampled on the day of the game, the memo states.

09-03-2021, 03:07 AM	#4
Old School Member Senior Member Join Date: Apr 28, 2020 Location: Earth Posts: 2,137	NBA Proposes New Guidelines For Vaccinated & Unvaccinated Players HoopsRumors https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2021/09/...d-players.html The NBA’s proposed health and safety protocols for the upcoming season will have much different requirements for vaccinated and unvaccinated players, according to Brian Windhorst and Tim Bontemps of ESPN https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/...inated-players . The new rules, which are still being negotiated with the players union, are outlined in a memo the league sent to its teams. They would require players who have not gotten the vaccine to have their lockers as far away as possible from vaccinated teammates. They will also be placed in separate sections during meals, flights and bus rides. Vaccinated players would no longer be required to have daily tests for the virus and will only be subject to testing if they exhibit symptoms or are exposed to someone who has tested positive. Their unvaccinated counterparts must be tested on any days with games or practices and may have to be tested twice on some days. Those who haven’t been vaccinated will still be subject to a mandatory seven-day quarantine if they have close contact with a person who tests positive. Vaccinated players likely won’t have to deal with a quarantine as long as they don’t return a positive test. Unvaccinated players won’t be permitted to sit with their unvaccinated teammates and must be at least six feet away during meals and team meetings. During team flights, the unvaccinated may have to sit in a section of the plane with staff members, and on bus trips, they will have to be separated from other players and may be required to take a separate bus. Some of the restrictions may be relaxed for unvaccinated players who have recovered from the virus within the past six months, Windhorst and Bontemps add. The NBA also hopes to have all players tested for COVID-19 antibodies during their preseason physicals.