NFL doctor: League had 0.08% COVID-19 positivity rate during season
The NFL's chief medical officer, Dr. Allen Sills, said Wednesday that the league's overall COVID-19 positivity rate this season was 0.08%, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.
There have been 262 coronavirus cases among players and 463 among other personnel since Aug. 1, per Sills.
"We feel that our club facilities truly were some of the safest possible locations," Sills said.
The NFL had its share of outbreaks. The Tennessee Titans' Week 4 and Week 5 games were postponed after they recorded a number of positive cases in September. The Ravens had their Thanksgiving matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers rescheduled three times due to an outbreak in Baltimore's facility.
Each NFL team had at least one player test positive, but the league hasn't had to postpone or reschedule an entire week.
"This was an unusual year. This is one we're not looking to replicate," NFL vice president of communications Jeff Miller said, according to Mark Maske of the Washington Post. "Let's be straight about that. We're hoping next year we can return to normal. But in the meanwhile, we did what I think was responsible."
Still, just days away from Super Bowl LV, two Kansas City Chiefs players were deemed close contacts of someone who'd tested positive for COVID-19. A barber that was scheduled to give haircuts to more than 20 Chiefs, including quarterback Patrick Mahomes, tested positive and was notified while cutting center Daniel Kilgore's hair, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.
The barber was dismissed and Kilgore and wideout Demarcus Robinson were placed on the Chiefs' COVID-19 list. However, Sills isn't yet concerned that the incident will affect Super Bowl LV.
"At this point, we feel like we're in a good position with that. And we'll just continue to monitor it," Sills said, per Maske.