MLB relaxes COVID restrictions for vaccinated

NEW YORK – All fully vaccinated players and staff members can stop wearing face masks (masks) in dugouts, bullpens and clubhouses in the most recent Major League Baseball (MLB) change in protocols for COVID-19.

In addition, fully vaccinated players and staff members can go out to restaurants without restrictions and attend sporting events as spectators in places with security protocols approved by government agencies, the commissioner’s office and the players’ association indicated in a memo sent on Wednesday night. .

Kinexon tracking devices and monitoring tests will be phased out and those responsible for compliance will no longer have to accompany teams on tours.

Social distancing and mask-wearing requirements have been eliminated for team buses carrying fully vaccinated players and staff members, who can resume their arrival at clubhouses more than five hours before games.

Unvaccinated and partially vaccinated players and staff members must still wear face masks, but it will not be considered a violation of the protocols to remove them briefly to eat or drink, before entering or leaving the showers or at the direction of doctors and physical trainers.

Clubhouse social distancing was eliminated for all teams that reached 85 percent vaccinations among Group 1 individuals such as players, managers, coaches and physical trainers. As of last Friday, 22 of the 30 teams had reached 85 percent vaccination within Group 1.

Restrictions for team members to dine together were also removed, with the exception of unvaccinated individuals, who must wear masks while not eating or drinking.

Fully vaccinated players and staff members can also resume their trips without PCR testing when they meet the team, unless they show symptoms of COVID-19 or are known to have been exposed to the virus. Unvaccinated or partially vaccinated family members can be with fully vaccinated players and staff members on tours and players and staff members can use the pools of hotels with social distancing and training centers, although with the use of masks if those training centers they are open to the public.

The five-day quarantine was eliminated for free agents and players selected from a team’s 40-man roster who were not previously on the COVID-19 testing program.

The Seattle Mariners reported Thursday that they will return to 100 percent attendance at T-Mobile Park on July 2, becoming the 29th of 30 team to open their park with maximum attendance.

Only the Texas Rangers began the current season at 100 percent capacity at their park, after fans were denied access during the 2020 short season due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Other teams that have announced the total opening of their parks during the current season are Atlanta (May 7), Arizona (May 25), Boston (May 29), Kansas City (May 31), Baltimore (June 1 ), Cincinnati and Cleveland (June 2), Philadelphia (June 4), Detroit (June 8), the Chicago Cubs and Washington (June 11), Philadelphia (June 12), St. Louis (June 14) ), Los Angeles Dodgers (June 16), Los Angeles Angels and San Diego (June 17), New York Yankees (June 18), New York Mets (June 21), Chicago White Sox, Houston, Milwaukee and San Francisco (June 25), Colorado (June 28), Oakland (June 29), Pittsburgh (July 1) and Minnesota and Tampa Bay (July 5).

Only Toronto will not return to normal capacity. The Blue Jays have not played in Toronto since 2019, due to the Canadian government’s coronavirus restrictions. Last season they played in the park of their Triple A branch in Buffalo, New York, where they finished 17-9 and started the current schedule with a 10-11 record at their spring camp stadium in Dunedin, Florida, where they played. until May 24 before returning to Buffalo, where they will play until at least July 21.

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