PGA Tour changes testing policy for COVID-19 to benefit vaccinated players
The PGA Tour upholds its stance that it will not mandate vaccination, but COVID testing will change for players and caddies depending on whether they have been vaccinated or not.
The PGA Tour has updated its COVID-19 testing policy, as well as on-site health and safety protocols, to give more freedom to players and caddies who have been vaccinated.
In the United States, anyone over the age of 18 is now eligible for vaccination and in reaction to this, the PGA Tour sent out a letter highlighting its new testing regulations, that will see no more routine testing for those who have been fully vaccinated, once 14 days have passed since their last vaccine shot.
Players and caddies who have been vaccinated will also be allowed to gather in small groups, per CDC guidelines, and should a fully vaccinated player come into close contact with someone who tests positive for COVID, they will not need to self-isolate unless they show signs of symptoms.
Face covering and social distancing will still be required due to the PGA Tour's health and safety program, whilst the tour added in the letter that they can still periodically test any player.
For players who are yet to be vaccinated, they will still be tested prior to tournaments to confirm their participation, but on-site testing will stop at the end of June.
Once testing at tournaments comes to an end, non-vaccinated players, caddies and members inside the PGA Tour's bubble will be required to show a negative COVID test at their own expense 72 hours before arriving at the event.
The PGA Tour upholds its stance that it will not make vaccination manditory and everyone has a choice on the matter, but the letter did state that the tour "strongly encourages all constituents to get vaccinated as soon as eligible" whilst it also highlighted the safety and efficacy of the vaccine, as well as reminding people of its worldwide success.
