A comprehensive account of the strategies implemented by the National Basketball Association (NBA), which include a social bubble, to mitigate COVID-19 exposure during the 2019-2020 season has recently been outlined.
The NBA's approach showcases how rigorous adherence to specific protocols can effectively curb disease outbreaks within a controlled environment.
According to a report published in the Association for Diagnostics & Laboratory Medicine's (formerly AACC's) The Journal of Applied Laboratory Medicine, this success sets a precedent for future pandemic management.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - OCTOBER 27: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers brings the ball up court during the third quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on October 27, 2023 in Cleveland, Ohio.
NBA Bubble During COVID-19 Pandemic
Following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, the NBA temporarily halted operations and resumed the 2019-2020 season in July of the same year at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida.
This move facilitated the consolidation of basketball facilities, accommodation, and medical resources within an enclosed space called the "Bubble."
The NBA's Bubble marked a pioneering effort to establish a self-contained yet fully functional campus amid the pandemic. This study marks the first comprehensive documentation of the methods and protocols employed within the Bubble.
Before gaining entry to the Bubble, every participant had to go through a quarantine period and secure a negative PCR test outcome for COVID-19. Once inside, only authorized staff had the privilege of entering or exiting during the period of operation, which extended from July 1 to October 11, 2020.
Residents on the campus were under obligation to provide daily updates on their symptoms, body temperature, and oxygen levels. Furthermore, they were subjected to PCR testing on a daily basis, and these samples were processed at labs located off-site.
There was a stringent insistence on maintaining physical distance and wearing masks at all times, with only a few specific circumstances allowing for any deviation from this rule.
Throughout the Bubble's operation, a total of 148,043 PCR tests were conducted across roughly 5,000 individuals, including players, guests, team personnel, league staff, media representatives, and vendors. Remarkably, only 24 cases were identified within the Bubble.
The daily positivity rate on campus consistently remained below 1%, even as the surrounding Orlando community experienced rates as high as 15%.
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NBA Bubble's Success
The Bubble facilitated the successful conclusion of 205 games, marking the conclusion of the 2019-2020 NBA season. Alongside the mentioned measures, the authors attribute the Bubble's triumph to the presence of 40 compliance officers who ensured that protocols were followed.
Additionally, the availability of on-site mental health services played a pivotal role in assisting players and staff in dealing with the emotional strain of extended separation from their families.
While acknowledging the substantial resources available to the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA), the authors emphasize that the principles followed can be applied in settings with more limited financial and occupational health resources.
They assert, "Our experience demonstrates protocols can successfully enable a closed community to function safely within a broad community with high disease prevalence, and highlighted success factors that are broadly applicable in a pandemic caused by a respiratory virus."
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