Eight New Orleans Saints personnel test positive for COVID-19: report

Eight members of the New Orleans Saints including six coaching staff, a team nutritionist and a player have tested positive for COVID-19, two sources told The Associated Press reported.

Those infected were not expected to be identified immediately due to federal medical privacy laws, the AP noted. The sources told AP that the entire coaching staff had been vaccinated. 

The AP reported that it was unclear how long those who tested positive would return to the field or to in-person meetings.  

The Saints are now operating under the NFL’s enhanced COVID-19 protocols, which requires masks at indoor facilities, daily testing and no in-person meetings.

The Saints are coming off a 38-3 season-opening victory Sunday against the Green Bay Packers. The contest was played in Jacksonville, Florida due to damage to the team’s arena caused by Hurricane Ida in Louisiana, the AP reported. 

The Saints’ NFC South rivals, the Atlanta Falcons, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are the only two teams in the league to have all their players vaccinated. 

The Saints’ week two contest against the Carolina Panthers remains on track to be played this upcoming Sunday, the AP noted. 

The Hill has reached out to the Saints for comment.