Fauci said if the risk is low enough he could see filling a third of the stadium or half the stadiumGETTY IMAGES
Dr. Anthony Fauci suggested that NFL stadiums "might not have to be empty all season," according to Peter King of NBCSPORTS.com. Fauci said, "It's feasible that negative testing players could play to an empty stadium. ... There will be virus out there and you will know your players are negative at the time they step onto the field. You're not endangering." Fauci added, "If the virus is so low that even in the general community the risk is low, then I could see filling a third of the stadium or half the stadium so people could be six feet apart. I mean, that's something that is again feasible depending on the level of infection." King notes it is clear that Fauci "thinks the NFL has time on its side," not just because he "sees the virus waning by Labor Day, certainly, but because of other factors that are calendar-friendly." The availability of tests "should make massive testing by August and September easier," and people "should be far more prepared to handle the disease as it loosens its grip on society." If the 32 NFL teams tested players, coaches and vital personnel twice a week, that "would probably consume about 20,000 COVID-19 tests for the season." In response to that prospect, Fauci said, "By the end of August, we should have in place Antigen testings. ... You could test millions of people, millions of people." Fauci said that the NFL "hasn't reached out to talk to him" (NBCSPORTS.com, 5/11).
