Facing pressure from the players’ union, the NBA said it won’t be pursuing a vaccine mandate. Data says about 85% of players already have the shot. Separately, the Buffalo Bills will require proof of vaccines from fans at NFL games. Meanwhile, six New Orleans Saints coaching staff have covid.
The Washington Post:
NBA Won’t Require Players To Be Vaccinated This Season
The NBA will not require its players to be vaccinated against the coronavirus this season, a person familiar with the situation confirmed Tuesday. As reported earlier in the day by ESPN, the players’ union is opposing a vaccine mandate, the person confirmed. Approximately 85 percent of NBA players are already vaccinated, a spokesman for the league reportedly stated Tuesday. (Bieler, 9/14)
The New York Times:
Why N.B.A. Referees Agreed To A Covid-19 Vaccine Mandate
Late last month, the N.B.A. sent out a short news release announcing an agreement with the union representing the league’s referees to mandate Covid-19 vaccines. It stipulated that all referees must to be fully vaccinated to work games, including “recommended boosters.” Otherwise, the statement said, referees couldn’t work. … The agreement was notable at a time when labor unions across various industries have been split on whether to agree to vaccine mandates for their members. (Deb, 9/13)
In football news —
AP:
Buffalo Bills To Require Proof Of Vaccination From Fans
The Buffalo Bills joined the Las Vegas Raiders on Tuesday as the only NFL teams to require proof of vaccination against COVID-19 for all fans over the age of 12. The rules will be the same for Buffalo Sabres games at the KeyBank Center when the NHL season gets under way next month. The change comes after reports from fans about lax mask enforcement during the Bills’ opening game at Highmark Stadium Sept. 12. (9/14)
AP:
AP Source: 6 Saints Coaches Have Positive COVID-19 Tests
Six unidentified members of the New Orleans Saints coaching staff, a player and a nutritionist have tested positive for COVID-19, two people familiar with the situation said. The people spoke with The Associated Press on Tuesday on condition of anonymity because the team and NFL had not made a public statement about the matter. The people said the entire Saints coaching staff had been vaccinated. (Martel, 9/15)
The Wall Street Journal:
New Orleans Saints Covid-19 Cases Will Test NFL’s Pandemic Strategy
Eight members of the New Orleans Saints have tested positive for Covid-19, according to two people familiar with the matter, in a developing situation that represents the first major test of the revamped protocols for the NFL’s second pandemic season. The positives include six coaches, a nutritionist and one player, the people said. NFL rules call for all coaches to be vaccinated, implying that at least four of the positive tests represent so-called breakthrough cases. The player who tested positive is on injured reserve and did not travel with the team to its opening game, one of the people said. (Beaton, 9/14)
USA Today:
COVID-19 Vaccine Expert Not As Concerned About Full Stadiums As People Not Getting Shots
If you’re someone who looks at full NFL stadiums and worry they are potentially superspreading events, you are far from alone. If you see people in close quarters watching baseball inside a full stadium and believe COVID-19 gives that a huge thumbs up, well, one of the best immunologists in the world says don’t panic. “If you have a stadium full of people and many of them are vaccinated, they will be protected, and others will be protected, from serious illness,” said Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett, one of the creators of the Moderna vaccine, in an interview with USA TODAY Sports. (Freeman, 9/15)
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