After a brief hiatus following the culmination of the halted season, the NBA is set to kick-start their 2020-21 campaign from December 22. However, before the NBA regular-season start, the franchises will compete in a brief preseason and as a result, the daily virus testing process has begun.
The NBA revealed the guidelines to the teams on Saturday and abiding by it, the players will begin testing for the virus before they move onto their respective training camps and preseason fixtures.
However, the guidelines do not mention any particular scenario where the season could be delayed or suspended in the case of any unforeseen circumstances arising due to the virus. It does mention that if a player is tested positive, he can return to work by going 10 or more days after the first positive test or onset of symptoms or produce two negative tests at least 24 hours apart.
Travel guidelines have been updated as well with the contingent limited to 45 members which include 17 players. While the previous season was restarted in a bubble, this time around, the team will travel across arenas all over the United States to compete.
As opposed to the usual 82 games played in the regular season, the 2020-21 campaign will only feature 72 games in the league stage before it moves on to the Playoffs and the finals.
NBA and franchises keep safety as the first priority to ensure seamless basketball
Several measures have been taken by the association as well as the franchises to ensure an uninterrupted season.
Golden State Warriors were reportedly keen to bring back fans into the game and shell out $30 million in the process. In an expanded plan which involves rapid testing and social distancing in the arena, the franchise wants to return back to its original ways to allow the fans witness the action live and also to cut down impending losses.
Meanwhile, the NBA are also on the verge to re-introduce the anonymous safety hotline to ensure the absence of any possible cases. The system found great success during the season restart in the bubble with several players using it to report their peers of flouting the safety regulations.
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