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The NFL is nearing the finish line after a
season marked by schedule changes and numerous revisions to
health and safety protocols due to COVID-19 but no outright
cancellations.
The league now faces the task of putting on the biggest
spectacle in U.S. professional sports amidst the pandemic.
A reduced crowd of 22,000 will be allowed inside the home of the
Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who face the Super Bowl champion Kansas
City Chiefs on Feb. 7.
Fauci told the New York Press Club he was comfortable with the
number of spectators allowed "as long as they wear masks and as
long as there's physical distancing. That's the point.
"You can't have people (sitting close) now given the level of
infection, but mask wearing and limited capacity seating I think
is reasonable since it's an outdoor event which really, really
makes a difference," he added.
Fans were barred from attending all but one stadium in Week 1,
but the NFL oversaw an increasing number of teams opening their
doors as the season went on, with spectators allowed to attend
more than half of the games by Week 6.
NFL Chief Medical Officer Allen Sills told reporters this week
the league had not "traced any outbreaks or cluster of
(COVID-19) cases to any of the places we have hosted fans".
He added that the league will be providing KN-95 standard masks
to all fans attending the Super Bowl.
(Reporting by Amy Tennery; Editingn by Ken Ferris)
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