This Face Mask is Very Protective

In this analysis of U.S. college athletes playing football games during the COVID-19 pandemic published by the JAMA Network on October 29, 2021, no instances of in-game SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus transmission were found.

These researchers from Texas A&M University, Florida, and LSU found low SARS-CoV-2 inter-team transmission risk in college football when rigorous and multipronged protection strategies were implemented.

Despite 12% of athletes testing positive for SARS-CoV-2, only 18 had competed during the preceding 48 hours, and no downstream infections to opposing team members were apparent.

Actual contacts were exceedingly brief, even when accumulated over an entire game.

In-game close contact was rare, not associated with SARS-CoV-2 transmission, and no U.S. CDC-defined close contact exposures were observed.

Between September and December 19, 2020, over 1,100 college football athletes had 109,762 opposing-player interactions over 64 SEC regular-season games.

These interactions were fleeting (median length, 6 seconds), and most (95%) were briefer than 26 seconds. And the accumulated contact time between players during a single game was fewer than 23 seconds.

This finding suggests gameplay during a COVID-19 pandemic did not seed outbreaks.

Implications of sporting events and other game-related activities, such as training and travel, warrant more extensive analysis of SARS-CoV-2 transmission in athletic organizations and communities.

And further analysis of specific contact types, positions stopped clock or pregame and postgame periods, environmental conditions, and contact between teammates, referees, coaches, and other individuals onfield during games, along with clinical and public health case data, could shed additional light on SARS-CoV-2 infection and transmission among athletes.

In conclusion, these researchers stated, 'Even during a pandemic, infectious diseases can be effectively monitored and prevented during contact sports through multipronged and innovative strategies that leverage traditional public health practices and applied technologies.'