NEW YORK, DECEMBER 23 (US): The media and other league staff working in close proximity to teams and players on game day are subject to a new mandate from the NBA to receive the COVID-19 booster shot by January 5.
In a note to the NBA’s executives and the league’s Board of Governors, Senior Vice President of Player Affairs David Weiss outlined the updated protocol. This applies to all non-players individuals who are eligible to receive a third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine as defined by the Centers for Disease Control.
The order covers “league staff and vendors who interact in an official capacity personally with any player” within 15 feet, including referees, league operations, player development, player-team marketing, communications and NBA photos.
Teams were told to monitor the process and inform the league directly by January 7, Reuters reports.
The shift follows comments from Commissioner Adam Silver Tuesday in an interview with ESPN in which he said that data and medical advisors collectively indicate very low transmission of the virus in people who have had three doses — two shots of mRNA and a booster. Silver said those who got three doses did not “get rid of the virus” based on a genetic test that the university reviewed after positive tests.
In Wednesday’s release, the NBA said the decision was made “based on discussions with infectious diseases at the NBA and other medical experts, CDC guidance, and preliminary data showing significantly reduced protection from the Omicron variant in the absence of a booster.”
The nationwide increase in coronavirus cases affected the NBA hard in December after only 17 positives in October and November combined.
More than 115 positive tests were recorded by players in the first 21 days of the month.
Silver said games will play as planned unless the size of the roster forces a postponement, as was the case with postponed games on Wednesday (Toronto Raptors at Chicago Bulls) and Thursday (Brooklyn Nets at Portland Trail Blazers).