LOS ANGELES/MUNICH — The NFL, the American football professional league, will in the future test unvaccinated players only if they have symptoms. The earlier daily sampling is no longer needed. According to ESPN, the league has agreed to this policy with the players’ union NFLPA. Until now, the regulation only applied to vaccinated professionals.

The eight teams remaining in the playoffs reportedly only have a dozen unvaccinated players. One of them is Green Bay Packers superstar Aaron Rodgers. The quarterback has been exempted from testing for 90 days after recovery from a coronavirus infection, but that period will end soon.

“This symptom-based testing approach is in line with current health care recommendations and offers the best chance of quickly identifying cases,” ESPN said in a memo to clubs. From 12 December to 8 January, 756 players and 478 staff members tested positive. Most had no symptoms.

Recently, “ESPN” already reported that the NHL, the professional ice hockey league, only wanted to investigate if there were symptoms. The default should apply after the Allstar Game (February 5). However, further tests are planned before crossing the border from the United States to Canada and vice versa.

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