US sports pro leagues change game plans as Omicron touches base

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• Major national leagues are postponing games as more players and officials test positive for COVID-19
• Uncertainty hangs of pro leagues as dozens of games get postponed

The Omicron variant of the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19 is having a field day, threatening to hit professional sports out of the pitch.

Dozens of players are getting benched after testing positive to the virus. Games are getting canceled or postponed, while leagues and players' unions are rushing to try and move forward amid the all-embracing uncertainty.

Cross-border games rescheduled

The NHL has postponed 27 games so far and will put off another 12 because of the pandemic. The NBA postponed five games because of the high number of players and staff who had entered COVID-19 protocols. NFL game delays were also piling up, according to reports.

Also Read: Recovering travel industry jolted by Omicron fears

The NHL and the National Hockey League Players' Association have announced the continuation of the regular season. But the league’s cross-border games between the U.S. and Canada are going to be rescheduled.

The NHL said earlier it was increasing coronavirus safety measures after Omicron through at least Jan. 7, including more intense testing for the vaccinated and unvaccinated players.

Also Read: Indoor mask mandate back in California amid Omicron fear

The NFL said it would only test unvaccinated and symptomatic players, The Associated Press reported. Vaccinated players would no longer be tested weekly.

Higher degree of precision

"It's not about loosening our standards," Dr. Allen Sills, the league's chief medical officer, told AP. "If anything, we're just bringing a higher degree of precision in measuring ourselves against a more precise ruler."

Sills asked players to report symptoms, get booster shots and limit exposure to the virus, according to NFL Network reporter Mike Garafolo.

The Omicron variant, experts say, spreads faster than others, and it also causes breakthrough infections in vaccinated people. Although there are reports the variant may cause milder COVID-19 than other strains, it is wiser to keep it at an arm’s length.

Related Article: Omicron coronavirus variant: All your questions answered

Despite the professional sports leagues’ reluctance to advise the players to get vaccinated, a vast majority of players have gotten the shot. The leagues also have rigorous testing regimes in place. Therefore, experts say that the high number of infections the sports world is recording now is an indication of what's in store for the population at large.

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