The Atlantic Coast Conference released its COVID-19 protocols for all competitors during the 2021-22 fall athletic seasons Thursday.

According to the release, should a team be unable to field enough players to compete on the scheduled day of the game due to COVID-19 issues, that team would forfeit and be given a loss. The other team would also be given a win.

Should neither team be able to compete due to COVID-19 issues, both teams would forfeit and be given a loss.

These rules apply to teams competing in football, field hockey, men’s and women’s soccer and volleyball.

The ACC also mandated that any unvaccinated individual on a team with a vaccination status below the 85% threshold must submit to PCR testing three times a week. If the team is at or above the 85% threshold, unvaccinated members will be tested once a week.

UNC head football coach Mack Brown told reporters Sunday that his team will be at the 85% mark by the start of the regular season. Teams at or above the mark may also relax mitigation strategies during team activities such as meals and meetings.

The ACC also stated that any masking of individual team members within the bench area or within the playing enclosure “will be at the discretion of the home institution.”

“The ACC’s Medical Advisory Group continues its tireless efforts to deliver meaningful protocols that will provide a healthy and safe environment for our student-athletes and teams,” said ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips in a statement Thursday. “As a conference, we are extremely proud of the significant progress and overall high rates of vaccination among student-athletes, coaches and staff.”

 

Featured image via Atlantic Coast Conference

Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees. You can support local journalism and our mission to serve the community. Contribute today – every single dollar matters.

Related Stories
‹
UNC Football Offering Free Vaccines and Tickets to Fans
Starting with Saturday night’s game against Georgia State, UNC will be offering free COVID-19 vaccinations in front of Kenan Stadium. The vaccination tents will be located between gates 5 and 6 at the stadium, and will be operating from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. before the game. The Moderna, Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson vaccines […]
UNC Announces 2021-22 COVID Protocols for Athletic Events
With the start of football season rapidly approaching, and other sports already underway, UNC announced its COVID protocols for all 2021-22 athletic events Thursday. Safety remains our priority, and everyone attending events must comply with local guidelines and @UNC's COVID-19 Community Standards. Let's do everything we can to keep each other safe.#GoHeels https://t.co/EH7smBCp59 — UNC […]
UNC Health Relaxing Mask Restrictions at Local Hospitals and Clinics
UNC Health hospitals and clinics in the Triangle area are planning to relax most mask requirements for employees, patients and visitors beginning Monday, July 19. The locations will transition to “mask optional” in most areas. The relaxation of the policies is based on current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines and new data across […]
Orange County Adjusts, Scales Back COVID Testing Schedule
The Orange County Health Department announced its new hours of operation for drive-thru and walk-in COVID-19 testing in Hillsborough and Chapel Hill. The updated hours went into effect at the beginning of August. The health department continues to scale back its offerings as at-home COVID-19 tests become more and more available. Instead of being offered […]
Pfizer COVID-19 Shot Appears Effective For Kids Under 5
Written by MATTHEW PERRONE and MIKE STOBBE Federal health officials said Sunday that kid-sized doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccines appear to be safe and effective for kids under 5, a key step toward a long-awaited decision to begin vaccinating the youngest American children. The Food and Drug Administration posted its analysis of the Pfizer shot ahead […]
NCAA Updates COVID Policies for Winter Sports
As the omicron variant of COVID-19 continues to wreak havoc across the nation, the NCAA has released amended COVID policies for its winter sports. The new policies take into account vaccination status and other immunity considerations for Tier 1 personnel, which includes student-athletes and coaches. A Tier 1 individual will be considered “fully vaccinated” if […]
UNC Leadership Addresses COVID Concerns With Employee Forum
As UNC nears its return to campus in a couple of weeks, employees of the university remain concerned about the university’s ability to come back safely.
UNC Expert: Speed and Efficiency of Vaccines is Something to be 'Grateful' For
Early CDC data and COVID case count numbers show all three approved vaccines are highly effective in preventing deaths and hospitalizations from the virus. Despite this research, many people are concerned about potential side effects and the speed at which vaccines were developed.
UNC Encourages Students to Self-Report Vaccination Status Ahead of Fall Return
Upon returning to campus, students will be asked to mark if they have been vaccinated, unvaccinated or if they prefer not to answer. University leadership said the new vaccination status requirement will help the campus return to standard community operations in the fall.
Duke Experts Share Advice On Avoiding, Treating Respiratory Viruses Over Holidays
Duke Health recently held a discussion on how people can avoid or cope with viral illnesses during the holiday season.
›