Report: NFL, NFLPA Agree to Shortening Quarantine Time From 10 to Five Days

The CDC announced that asymptomatic individuals who test positive for the virus would only need to quarantine for five days.

The NFL and the player's association have agreed to a change that will shorten the quarantine time for individuals in COVID-19 protocols from 10 to five days, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. The news was confirmed by NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.

Here’s the full NFL memo to clubs, which also notes that fully vaccinated individuals can still “test out” and return in less than 5 days. Unvaccinated players out 5 days since the initial positive specimen was collected. pic.twitter.com/ipYXIBYbk8

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) December 28, 2021

The change would come just a day after the CDC announced the change in its guidelines. This would specifically pertain to asymptomatic individuals. Meaning, after five days of quarantining an individual can return to football activities even if they are unvaccinated, if they present no symptoms. That's not all, however. 

Individuals would also need to go 24 hours without a fever without the use of fever-reducing medication. Additionally, they would need to be cleared by a team doctor in consultation with Infection Control for Sports and the NFL. 

The NBA is reportedly shortening its quarantine time from 10 to six days for individuals who are asymptomatic as well, per a Monday ESPN report. The NFL's change is especially significant because an individual who tested positive early in the week could now clear protocols by Sunday's game. 

The 106 players who were placed on the COVID-19 list on Monday nearly doubled the NFL's single-day high for players testing positive. A total of 521 players were placed on the COVID-19 list in December alone. For context, 428 players were placed on the COVID-19 list all of last season. 

For context: 428 players went on the Reserve/COVID-19 list all of last season (Sept. 1 to Super Bowl LV).

The NFL has said a majority of players hit by the current wave have mild or no symptoms. The league has not canceled a single regular-season or playoff game during COVID. pic.twitter.com/pJElzqwBmc

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) December 28, 2021