(Los Angeles) Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra questioned the NBA’s COVID-19 health protocols on Sunday, suggesting vaccinated players who test positive and asymptomatic should be treated as flu patients.
“Did everyone get their vaccine and their third dose?” Why should they be detained longer than if they had the flu? Spoelstra wondered.
The Heat coach was reacting to the positive test of his winger Caleb Martin, who has been sidelined under the anti COVID-19 health protocol. The Miami team will also have to undergo more tests.
“If you just search, add tests and try to find things, you’ll probably get there,” Spoelstra said.
The dangers are limited compared to last year, according to Spoeltra, as most NBA players have been vaccinated, given a third dose and are being tested. He fears losing other players due to protocols, as the Heat prepare to start a four-game away tour.
On Saturday, the Heat won 118-92 against the Chicago Bulls, who were deprived of seven players because of health protocols.
ESPN revealed on Sunday that two other Bulls players had to go through health protocols. As a result, Chicago has just nine players available, one more than the minimum required by the NBA, days away from a game against the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday.
“I think we all need to get this straight now,” Spoelstra said. “Do players miss games because they are symptomatic? Or are they asymptomatic? ”
Nearly 50 million Americans have contracted the coronavirus and more than 797,000 have died from it, as the country braces for a new wave of winter temperatures and the highly contagious Omicron variant.
In Florida, where the Heat are based, the death toll is 62,000.