Transmission Risk Among National Basketball Association Players, Staff, and Vendors Exposed to Individuals with Positive Test Results After COVID-19 Recovert During the 2020 Regular and Postseason

April 22, 2021

Christina D. Mack, PhD, MSPH1; John DiFiori, MD2; Caroline G. Tai, PhD1; Kristin Y. Shiue, MPH1; Yonatan H. Grad, MD3; Deverick J. Anderson, MD4; David D. Ho, MD5; Leroy Sims, MD6; Christopher LeMay, DO6; Jimmie Mancell, MD7; Lisa L Maragakis, MD, MPH8

JAMA Netw Open

Mack et conducted a retrospective cohort study to investigate the case characteristics of individuals who have clinically recovered from SARS-CoV-2 infection but continued to have positive test results after discontinuing isolation, also knows as a persistent positive case. The research team analysed data from the National Basketball Association (NBA) closed campus occupational health program in Orlando Florida, which included that of NBA players, staff, and vendors between June 11, 2020 and October 19, 2020. The results of the study found that of the 3648 individuals who participated, 36 individuals had persistent positive test results. These 36 individuals participated in approximately 51 days of unmasked contact events each and no transmission events or secondary infections were detected following their contact. The authors identify that this population most likely has a healthier status than the general population, which could have confounded these results.

Mack CD, DiFiori J, Tai CG, et al. SARS-CoV-2 Transmission Risk Among National Basketball Association Players, Staff, and Vendors Exposed to Individuals With Positive Test Results After COVID-19 Recovery During the 2020 Regular and Postseason. JAMA internal medicine 2021; published online April 22. DOI:10.1001/jamainternmed.2021.2114.

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