Do asymptomatic people spread covid-19? NFL medical officer says "no"

According to NFL chief medical officer Allen Sills, data shows that players and other individuals who are asymptomatic are not spreading covid-19.

Sills said that the new protocols they have put in place are based on the data that they have gathered from tracking coronavirus cases.

"We've really not seen this phenomenon that people have discussed, which is asymptomatic people in the facility spreading the virus to others. As we've gone back and looked throughout the entire season, what we've seen consistently is when people have symptoms, that's when they seem to be contagious to others,” said Sills.

The importance of symptom reporting

Sills said that more than just the test results, it is important to pay attention to any symptoms one might be experiencing and report them.

“And that's why we're asking people to come forward and acknowledge those symptoms because that's the point at which they're vulnerable and the point at which they expose themselves to others.”

"Our data has been consistent of that throughout the season, I think it's particularly true with this new variant, with omicron, of what we're seeing. It's all about symptom recognition and prompt testing.”

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Revised NFL protocols

The NFL had recently revamped its covid-19 protocols in the face of more covid-19 cases to include a more targeted testing plan. The new program eliminated the requirement for vaccinated players and personnel to be tested weekly. Instead, they would be monitored more closely for symptoms and tested less often. Random testing across team members is also being conducted.

The protocols for unvaccinated players remain the same, and they continue to be required to be tested daily.

The new guidelines also allow high-risk players to opt out of action for the remainder of the season.