Why is Raiders Game Delayed Today?
The Oakland Raiders’ game against the Seattle Seahawks which was scheduled for today has been unexpectedly postponed due to COVID-19-related concerns. This is not the first time the team’s plans have been impacted by the novel coronavirus pandemic.
Factors contributing to the delayed game
The game delay comes at a time when the number of COVID-19 infections in the Bay Area is rising. The following are some of the factors that have contributed to the delay of the game:
- Player illnesses: Two members of the Raiders organization have tested positive for COVID-19, including one player. The team is currently conducting contract-tracing in order to identify any other individuals who may have been exposed.
- Confirmed team contact: As part of the contact tracing done in the aftermath of the positive tests, at least one team member was identified as having had contact with the positive individuals. As such, the entire team has been quarantined until further notice.
- Testing protocol: Both teams must meet the NFL COVID-19 protocol that requires every team to test all of its members before games. This requires two tests a week leading up to the game. In this case, the Raiders were unable to complete the necessary tests in time.
- New COVID-19 guidelines: The Bay Area is currently under new stricter COVID-19 guidelines that were recently implemented by the state of California. This has forced the Raiders to enforce more stringent safety protocols which take time to prepare.
What’s next for the Raiders?
The Raiders’ game against the Seahawks has been tentatively rescheduled for next Monday evening. At that time, the team hopes to have completed the necessary tests in order to adhere to the NFL’s COVID-19 protocols.
It’s unclear what the long-term impacts of the pandemic will be on the Raiders season. However, it’s clear that the team is dedicated to following all safety protocols and doing what’s necessary to ensure the health and safety of both the players and the fans.
