The Big South Conference announced Wednesday updates to its COVID Return to Play guidance for the remainder of the 2021-22 athletic season as approved by the league’s Council of Chief Executive Officers.
The Big South Conference’s head athletics trainers and team physicians reviewed the latest guidance of the Centers for Disease Control on shortening the COVID isolation and quarantine periods, and in the interest of student-athlete health and safety have implemented the ability for individuals to “test out” of the requirement to wear a mask during practice and competition once out of isolation or quarantine.
This new guideline is effective immediately, but local public health guidelines will continue to take precedence during the ever-changing environment caused by the pandemic. The Big South Conference will continue to evaluate its COVID Return to Play guidance and will make future adjustments as appropriate.
The specific changes to the Big South’s Return to Play guidance include anyone testing positive for COVID-19 must be isolated regardless of vaccination status by staying home for five days and anyone displaying no symptoms or the symptoms are resolved after five days can leave the house but must continue to wear a mask around others for five additional days.
For competition and practice only, an individual may test out of the five additional-day mask requirement if beginning on day 5, the individual shows two consecutive negative antigen tests 24 hours apart, or one negative PCR test.
Anyone with fever must stay home until the fever resolves. Anyone exposed to someone with COVID-19 who has been boosted, completed the primary series of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine within the last 6 months, or completed the primary series of J&J vaccine within the last 2 months must wear a mask around others for 10 days and test on day 5 if possible.
For competition and practice only, an individual may test out of the last five days of the mask requirement if beginning on day 5, the individual shows two consecutive negative antigen tests 24 hours apart, or one negative PCR test.
Anyone who develops symptoms should get a test and stay home.
Anyone who completed the primary series of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine more than six months ago and is not boosted or completed the primary series of J&J over two months ago and is not boosted, or is unvaccinated must be isolated by staying home for five days and then continue to wear a mask around others for five additional days. Anyone who can’t quarantine must wear a mask for 10 days and test on day 5 if possible.
For competition and practice only, an individual may test out of the 5-additional-day mask requirement if beginning on day 5 the individual shows two consecutive negative antigen tests 24 hours apart, or one negative PCR test.
