By 98.5 The Sports Hub Staff
The NFL sent a memo to all 32 teams on Monday morning, outlining the protocols for players to return to team facilities under continued COVID-19 restrictions. Read the full memo via Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network on Twitter.
"As you know, over the past two months, we have worked closely with the NFLPA and outside medical experts to develop protocols that will facilitate a safe return to practice and play for NFL players and football staffs," the memo begins. "These protocols are based on work done by a series of joint NFL-NFLPA task forces, which have brought together our own medical advisors, led by Dr. Sills, representatives of almost every member club, outside medical experts, including from the CDC, Duke University Infection Control Network (DICON) and other major universities, and the NFLPA medical team."
Here are some of the protocols for players who return to the facilities, per Pelissero:
-- Attended lockers must be at least 6 feet apart
-- Meetings must be conducted virtually
-- Player equipment must be disinfected after each game
-- Masks required, except during "athletic activities"
The guidelines that Patriots players will have to follow are similar to that of the state of Massachusetts, which officially began Phase 2 of its return plan on Monday. Restaurants and retail stores are among the businesses allowed to reopen, while also enforcing their own COVID-19 restrictions.
Coaches and other football staffers were allowed to return to Gillette Stadium as of last Friday, June 5. According to Albert Breer of The MMQB, the Patriots had some coaches in on the first day but are currently taking a "voluntary" approach.
Cornerback Jason McCourty is one Patriots player who confirmed that he's been visiting Gillette Stadium for treatment, as he recovers from groin surgery earlier in the offseason.
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