When the NBA begins its upcoming 2022-23 season, it looks like things will be a little different than the past two seasons as the league moves closer to normal as the world continues to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.
On Tuesday night, the NBA’s Health and Safety Protocols for the upcoming 2022-23 were revealed, according to Fox News. Under the new protocols, masks and face coverings will no longer be required and vaccinated players and staff will only be tested when symptomatic, but unvaccinated players will be subject to COVID-19 tests every week.
“It looks like we’ll be on our normal track in terms of when the season starts, in terms of our protocols around the game, particularly around the health and safety of our players,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said at the league’s Board of Governors meeting in July, according to Fox News. “I have learned over the last two and a half years not to make any predictions when it comes to COVID, but only to say we’ll be prepared for anything that comes our way.”
The NBA’s new protocols are a sign that the league is moving towards normalcy once again, but COVID-19’s impacts are still felt in some places. Regardless, the NBA world had plenty to say about the new guidelines.
Good call. Exactly what I was saying before. https://t.co/hKZY8bzPOV
— Lucas Navarrete (@LucasNavarreteM) August 30, 2022
Come a long way from the Disney World bubble https://t.co/g03cyVHOm7
— Kirk A. Bado (@kirk_bado) August 30, 2022
I'm sure the single dose of J+J in 2021 totally makes this make sense. https://t.co/W8KfHfUzA1
— Zain Chagla (@zchagla) August 30, 2022
Who is the NBA’s medical Director?
Shaq?
(I love the guy, but this sounds like what he’d come up with) https://t.co/3OGaSsug41
— Anish Koka, MD (@anish_koka) August 30, 2022
why do they have a better covid protocol than au 😭 https://t.co/vXXIIAwtOP
— lev (@lisco_2000) August 30, 2022
NBA blatantly disregards latest CDC guidance.https://t.co/JWnLvMz1Sq https://t.co/AL1DO0H61a pic.twitter.com/3TCnYbDj0j
— Phil Kerpen (@kerpen) August 30, 2022
The new NBA season is set to begin on Oct. 18 with the Philadelphia 76ers taking on the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers taking on the Golden State Warriors.
[Fox News]
