The Atlanta Falcons announced on Monday that the whole team has been vaccinated against Covid-19, making them the first NFL team to do so. “Each player will now enjoy the benefits of being able to work out and eat together. They won’t have to test daily, won’t have to wear masks around the facility, and won’t have to quarantine following a close contact with someone who tests positive,” the team’s website stated.
The news comes after the Atlanta Falcons announced a 92 percent immunization rate among players on July 23. COVID-19 safety standards for testing, masking, social distancing, and access to team facilities are reduced for teams with an 85 percent immunization rate. According to NBC Sports, all 32 clubs in the league had immunization rates above 75% as of Saturday, with 15 teams exceeding 95%.
All 32 NFL teams now have above 75% vaccination rate, per source.
*28 teams above 85%
*25 teams above 90%
*15 teams above 95%— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) August 14, 2021
NFL Imposing Strict Restrictions on Unvaccinated Players
For this upcoming season, the league has put in place significant restrictions for unvaccinated players. When COVID-19 outbreaks occur in 2021, the NFL expects to cancel games rather than postpone them like it did last season. In a canceled game, the team having an outbreak among unvaccinated players will lose. Players on both teams will lose their game checks, forcing them to keep an eye on one another.
“As we learned last year, we can play a full season if we maintain a firm commitment to adhering to our health and safety protocols and to making needed adjustments in response to changing conditions,” Commissioner Roger Goodell said in the memo, obtained by The Associated Press.
According to ESPN, the Atlanta Falcons provided vaccines to the community during their preseason game on Friday. At the team’s practicee at Mercedez-Benz Stadium, vaccinations were also provided. This preseason, the Falcons were one of two teams to suffer from a COVID-19 outbreak. The Atlanta Falcons will face the Miami Dolphins in preseason action this week before opening the regular season on September 12 at home against the Philadelphia Eagles.
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