NFL Updates COVID-19 Vaccination Protocols for the 2021 Draft

The National Football League recently announced it would reduce COVID-19 restrictions by allowing fully vaccinated individuals participating in college draft to remain maskless if all others in the room are vaccinated.

The 2021 NFL Draft will take place in Cleveland, Ohio, on April 29, 2021, and run through May 1st.

The last 2020 event was the first completely virtual NFL draft.

The relaxed measures, including minimal distancing, will only apply to those with proof of vaccination.

In order to be classified as fully vaccinated, the individual must have received two doses of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccines and completed the requisite two-week post-shot period, or have received the Johnson & Johnson Janssen COVID-19 vaccine and completed the requisite two-week post-shot period per the NFL memo.

The NFL memo also allows for a maximum of 10 fully vaccinated individuals in the draft room. If all individuals are fully vaccinated, masks will not be required, physical distancing measures will be relaxed, and eating and drinking will be permissible.

The new update from NFL officials details the changes to the guidelines and procedures, which NFL Network reporter Ian Rapoport shared via Twitter.

The NFL has not clarified requirements for fans, employees, and players in the upcoming season with regards to capacity limits and vaccination requirements.