The Nevada Athletic Commission on Wednesday unanimously approved protocols for combat sports events held in the state during the ongoing COVID-19 era.
The protocols, in place for events held without a live audience in attendance – which is likely to be the case for the foreseeable future – will be put to test almost immediately since the Las Vegas-based UFC will hold an event at its UFC Apex facility Saturday, as well as one next week on June 6.
According to the COVID-19 protocols document, which MMA Junkie obtained from the NAC, the commission admits “there is no mechanism to ensure competition is 100 percent free from COVID-19 infection. However, the protocols … will significantly mitigate the chance of COVID-19 infection in combat sports.”
Here are some of the key protocols outlined in the document (see it in full here):
- All event personnel, right down to cleaning staff, must quarantine immediately after their COVID-19 tests. After their results come in, they must stay quarantined until the event’s conclusion. In this case, the UFC maintains the responsibility for knowing locations of all personnel.
- The venue will be closed to the public and strict control will be maintained over who enters. Entering the venue will require: temperature monitoring, a questionnaire, oral fluid collection for PCR testing, and quarantine until test results come back.
- Anyone who enters the facility must be given education from the CDC on the importance of safety measures to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. This can take place through email or online web sessions.
- Before entering the venue, all individuals will have to answer questions about their health and recent past whereabouts, including: Have you had a fever in the past 72 hours that was at or above 99.5 F? Have you come into contact with someone with COVID-19? If so, when? In the past two weeks, have you traveled to or from an area that is considered high risk, and/or been under a government-mandated quarantine period? In the past 72 hours, have you experienced any of the following symptoms: Shortness of breath, difficulty breathing or cough, fever, headache chills, sore throat, loss of taste or smell, muscle pain, nasal congestion, runny nose, diarrhea, fatigue
- The FDA-approved PCR testing method is preferred. The preference is for oral fluid testing kids. If none are available, “it is acceptable to use FDA-approved nasal swabs.”
- If a person is thought to be potentially positive for a COVID-19 infection through the questionnaire, or revealed through a test, “the individual will remain in quarantine and an infectious disease expert will be consulted.”
- All personnel on site must follow the state of Nevada’s social distancing guidelines – which includes wearing a mask at all times. Gloves are optional, but recommended.
- Anyone who tests positive must seek immediate primary care, self-quarantine in the state of Nevada for 14 days, and will not be allowed to travel by air until cleared. Solo car travel may be permitted if the individual does not live in the state of Nevada. Air travel will only be permitted after the person is cleared by an NAC physician and has tested negative.
- Persons who violate any of the sections of the protocols “will be subject to any and all disciplinary actions that can be brought against them by the NAC.”