NBA Uses Bubble Strategy to Mitigate COVID-19 Exposure during 2019-2020 Season
In a recent report published in The Journal of Applied Laboratory Medicine, the NBA has outlined the comprehensive strategies it implemented, including a social bubble, to effectively mitigate COVID-19 exposure during the 2019-2020 season. This approach demonstrates how strict adherence to protocols can successfully curb disease outbreaks within a controlled environment, setting a precedent for future pandemic management.
The NBA’s Bubble was established at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida, after the temporary halt of operations due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. The Bubble served as a self-contained campus, consolidating basketball facilities, accommodation, and medical resources. It was the first of its kind and marked a pioneering effort in creating a fully functional yet enclosed space amid the pandemic.
Stringent protocols were enforced before entry into the Bubble, requiring participants to undergo a quarantine period and test negative for COVID-19 using a PCR test. Once inside, only authorized staff were allowed to enter or exit the Bubble, which operated from July 1 to October 11, 2020.
Residents within the Bubble had to provide daily updates on their symptoms, body temperature, and oxygen levels. They also underwent daily PCR testing, with samples processed at off-site labs. The strict enforcement of physical distancing and mask-wearing was mandatory, with only limited exceptions.
Throughout the operation of the Bubble, a total of 148,043 PCR tests were conducted on approximately 5,000 individuals, including players, guests, team personnel, media representatives, and vendors. Remarkably, only 24 cases of COVID-19 were identified within the Bubble. The daily positivity rate consistently remained below 1%, even as the surrounding Orlando community experienced much higher rates.
The success of the Bubble allowed the NBA to conclude 205 games, effectively ending the 2019-2020 NBA season. Compliance officers played a crucial role in ensuring adherence to protocols, and on-site mental health services provided support to players and staff dealing with the emotional strain of prolonged separation from their families.
While the NBA had substantial resources at its disposal, the authors of the report emphasize that the principles and protocols followed in the Bubble can be adapted and applied in settings with more limited financial and occupational health resources. The experience of the NBA Bubble demonstrates that protocols can safely enable a closed community to function within a broader community with high disease prevalence, particularly in a pandemic caused by a respiratory virus.
The success of the NBA’s strategies in managing COVID-19 within the Bubble serves as a testament to the effectiveness of rigorous protocols and provides valuable insights for future pandemic management.
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