TY - JOUR
T1 - Implementation and evolution of mitigation measures, testing, and contact tracing in the national football league, August 9⇓november 21, 2020
AU - NFL COVID-19 Advisory and Operational Team
AU - Mack, Christina D.
AU - Wasserman, Erin B.
AU - Perrine, Cria G.
AU - MacNeil, Adam
AU - Anderson, Deverick J.
AU - Myers, Emily
AU - Smith, Sabrina
AU - McDonald, L. Clifford
AU - Osterholm, Michael
AU - Solomon, Gary S.
AU - Mayer, Thom
AU - Sills, Allen
AU - Aponte, Dawn
AU - Best, Michele
AU - Blalock, Paul
AU - Carroll, Meghan C.
AU - Casolaro, M. Anthony
AU - Delaney, Molly
AU - Eichner, Daniel
AU - Ferazani, Larry
AU - Frank, Jacob
AU - Hostler, Christopher J.
AU - Koch, Tiffany
AU - Lynch, John
AU - Mancell, Jimmie
AU - Martins, Damion
AU - Mellody, John
AU - Miller, Jeff
AU - Singh, Navdeep
AU - Sugarman, Eric
AU - Triola, Leah
AU - Walton, Patti
PY - 2021/1
Y1 - 2021/1
N2 - The National Football League (NFL) and the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) began the 2020 football season in July, implementing extensive mitigation and surveillance measures in facilities and during travel and gameplay. Mitigation protocols* were evaluated and modified based on data from routine reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19); proximity tracking devices; and detailed interviews. Midseason, transmission was observed in persons who had cumulative interactions of <15 minutes' duration, leading to a revised definition of high-risk contacts that required consideration of mask use, setting and room ventilation in addition to proximity and duration of interaction. The NFL also developed an intensive protocol that imposed stricter infection prevention precautions when a case was identified at an NFL club. The intensive protocol effectively prevented the occurrence of high-risk interactions, with no high-risk contacts identified for 71% of traced cases at clubs under the intensive protocol. The incorporation of the nature and location of the interaction, including mask use, indoor versus outdoor setting, and ventilation, in addition to proximity and duration, likely improved identification of exposed persons at higher risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection. Quarantine of these persons, along with testing and intensive protocols, can reduce spread of infection.
AB - The National Football League (NFL) and the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) began the 2020 football season in July, implementing extensive mitigation and surveillance measures in facilities and during travel and gameplay. Mitigation protocols* were evaluated and modified based on data from routine reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19); proximity tracking devices; and detailed interviews. Midseason, transmission was observed in persons who had cumulative interactions of <15 minutes' duration, leading to a revised definition of high-risk contacts that required consideration of mask use, setting and room ventilation in addition to proximity and duration of interaction. The NFL also developed an intensive protocol that imposed stricter infection prevention precautions when a case was identified at an NFL club. The intensive protocol effectively prevented the occurrence of high-risk interactions, with no high-risk contacts identified for 71% of traced cases at clubs under the intensive protocol. The incorporation of the nature and location of the interaction, including mask use, indoor versus outdoor setting, and ventilation, in addition to proximity and duration, likely improved identification of exposed persons at higher risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection. Quarantine of these persons, along with testing and intensive protocols, can reduce spread of infection.
KW - COVID-19/epidemiology
KW - COVID-19 Testing
KW - Contact Tracing
KW - Football
KW - Humans
KW - Masks/statistics & numerical data
KW - Physical Distancing
KW - Quarantine/statistics & numerical data
KW - Risk Assessment
KW - SARS-CoV-2/isolation & purification
KW - Time Factors
KW - United States/epidemiology
KW - Ventilation/statistics & numerical data
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85100533122&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85100533122&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.15585/MMWR.MM7004E2
DO - 10.15585/MMWR.MM7004E2
M3 - Article
C2 - 33507889
AN - SCOPUS:85100533122
SN - 0149-2195
VL - 70
SP - 130
EP - 135
JO - Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report
JF - Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report
IS - 4
ER -