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NBA reduces quarantine requirement for vaccinated players from 10 days to six: New protocols follow CDC guidance that cut isolation time in half for asymptomatic patients

  The   NBA   is expediting its quarantine process for vaccinated players, coaches and officials, who will now be permitted to return to wor...

 The NBA is expediting its quarantine process for vaccinated players, coaches and officials, who will now be permitted to return to work as quickly as six days after first testing positive for COVID-19.

According to a memo distributed to teams and obtained by DailyMail.com on Monday, the NBA and the players' union agreed to replace the 10-day isolation requirement with a six-day quarantine for vaccinated individuals, provided that testing data shows they're no longer infectious.

Players, coaches, and officials can still test out of the league COVID-19 protocols by passing a pair of screenings 24 hours apart.

The NBA's decision coincides with the CDC's new recommendation that isolation periods for people who show no signs of symptoms - and their close contacts - be dropped from 10 days to five days. 

Golden State Warriors' Klay Thompson, center, talks with Nemanja Bjelica #8 on the bench in the first quarter of their NBA game at the Chase Center in San Francisco on December 20

Golden State Warriors' Klay Thompson, center, talks with Nemanja Bjelica #8 on the bench in the first quarter of their NBA game at the Chase Center in San Francisco on December 20

The rule change will allow teams to replenish their depleted rosters after 166 players entered the NBA's health and safety protocol in the last two weeks. League commissioner Adam Silver told ESPN that the Omicron variant has been found in as much as 90 percent of recent cases among players.

The NBA has increased testing during the holidays, which will lead to more positive results, but the reduced quarantine time should help vaccinated players return to action more quickly.


Around 97 percent of NBA players are vaccinated, according to Silver. Notable holdouts include Washington Wizards star Bradley Beal and Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving, who has yet to play this season due to local health restrictions and team policy, but is expected to begin playing road games after he returns from health and safety protocol.

All NBA coaches and officials were required to be vaccinated.   

League sources have told ESPN that NBA data shows boosted individuals have been clearing the virus out of their systems at a faster pace.

Around 97 percent of NBA players are vaccinated, according to commissioner Adam Silver

Around 97 percent of NBA players are vaccinated, according to commissioner Adam Silver

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