When Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred implemented a shortened schedule amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic last season, it came with strict health and safety protocols for players, coaches and clubhouse personnel to follow.
While many of those measures remained in place at the start of the 2021 season, the league hoped to ease them as accessibility to vaccines became more common.
Now through two and a half months of the regular season, 22 clubs have met MLB’s goal of reaching the 85% mark in Tier 1 individuals (players, coaches and staff members) being fully vaccinated.
As a result, MLB has updated its guidelines for fully vaccinated individuals. According to Britt Ghiroli of The Athletic, those who have received their shots will no longer be required to get tested nor wear a mask in the dugout:
MLB has updated protocols for vaccinated Tier 1 & 2 individuals, including no longer testing vaccinated individuals unless they are symptomatic or have known exposure.
Also, fully vaccinated individuals are no longer required to wear a mask in the dugout or bullpen….(cont.)
— Britt Ghiroli (@Britt_Ghiroli) June 17, 2021
Meanwhile, unvaccinated individuals will still need to wear a mask until their team reaches the 85% vaccination threshold:
For unvaccinated or partially vaccinated players and other Tier 1/2 people are required to wear masks unless their team has reached the 85 percent mark.
— Britt Ghiroli (@Britt_Ghiroli) June 17, 2021
Further restrictions for teams that met the 85% vaccination threshold have been lifted, including player and locker room distance requirements:
For vaccinated teams, changes to protocols lift player and locker room distance requirements, restrictions on teams meals and no longer require any individual (vaccinated or not) to wait in outdoor areas during split doubleheaders or rain delays.
— Britt Ghiroli (@Britt_Ghiroli) June 17, 2021
What’s more, fully vaccinated individuals are no longer required to wear a mask indoors in restricted areas:
Fully vaccinated individuals are also not required to wear a mask indoors in restricted areas like the clubhouse and for team meetings.
— Britt Ghiroli (@Britt_Ghiroli) June 17, 2021
The Los Angeles Dodgers reached the 85% vaccination threshold in May and have been enjoying the perks that come with it. “I think we were very mindful of that coming into the season and trying to get to that 85% while all along respecting peoples’ personal decisions,” manager Dave Roberts said at the time.
“But ultimately to get to this point, the more guys you have vaccinated, you stay away from [potential coronavirus outbreaks].”
Dodgers set attendance record on Reopening Day at Dodger Stadium
The Dodgers drew an announced attendance of 52,078 for Reopening Day at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday, which was the largest crowd to watch a professional sports league game in the United States since the start of the pandemic last year.
The record attendance was made possible with the state of California recently loosening restrictions.
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