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With a global pandemic hanging over all of our lives, and the upcoming NBA season happening outside of a Bubble environment, it was unfortunately only a matter of time until we received news of positive COVID-19 test results from among Philadelphia’s roster. Throw in the Sixers rookie curse and it is predictable, in a laugh-to-keep-from-crying kind of way, that the first positive case reported was first-round pick Tyrese Maxey.
Philadelphia 76ers rookie guard Tyrese Maxey has not been with the team at the start of training camp as he waits to clear COVID protocols after receiving a positive test, per source. The expectation is he will join the team in the coming days.
— Derek Bodner (@DerekBodnerNBA) December 6, 2020
In addition to Maxey, we also received word this afternoon that Mike Scott is waiting to clear protocol following a positive test:
#Sixers PF Mike Scott is not with the team at the start of training camp while waiting to clear COVID-19 protocols after receiving a positive, according to a league source. He's expected to join the team in the coming days.
— Keith Pompey (@PompeyOnSixers) December 6, 2020
Given the expectation of both players joining the team soon, it’s safe to assume Maxey and Scott are either entirely or relatively asymptomatic and in good health, which is obviously the most important thing. For a rookie during a truncated training camp, the team would love to have Maxey in particular on site as much as possible, but safety and health are far and away the top priorities.
As relayed by ESPN, the league’s protocol for a return following a positive test involves waiting 10 days or having two negative PCR tests:
And, like in that first document, the league has constructed a rules system for what will happen when someone tests positive for COVID-19. Under such a scenario, there are two potential paths to return: a “time-based” resolution, and a “test-based” resolution.
Under the time-based resolution, the infected person would have to either have gone at least 10 days since the date of their first positive test or the onset of any symptoms, if they’ve had any; gone at least 24 hours since their fever went away without using any medications; and other symptoms have improved, while specifically noting that losses of taste or smell alone are not expected to prevent someone from leaving isolation.
Under the test-based resolution, the person must return at least two consecutive negative PCR tests from samples taken at least 24 hours apart.
Best wishes to Maxey and Scott on a speedy recovery and hope to see them both out on the court soon.