Yellow, Low-Risk Phase Won’t Change Utah Jazz Practice Guidelines

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The state of Utah’s move to the yellow, low-risk stage of the COVID-19 pandemic won’t immediately change the Utah Jazz practice guidelines. The team will continue to follow the parameters set by the NBA.

The NBA has not returned KSL Sports requests for an update on league protocol in light of the state’s change.

League franchises will follow the league’s lead, even as guidelines state to state may change. The NBA is working with state and local governments to build its guidelines.

From @UtahJazz spokesperson regarding whether the team can resume full team practices with moving into yellow phase:

"NBA sets parameters."

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) May 14, 2020

The yellow phase will allow Utahns to resume team sports according to Gen. Jefferson Burton of the Utah Department of Health. However, participants will have to be screened for symptoms as they return. Additionally, with proper social distancing, swimming pools can reopen. The limit on social gathers will grow to 50 people.

The Jazz play in Salt Lake County, which remains in the orange, moderate-risk phase.

NBA’s Return To Practice Facilities

The NBA began allowing players back to practice facilities on May 8. The Jazz reopened their doors beginning May 11. The NBA hopes that 22 of the league’s 30 franchises will have open practices by next week according to ESN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

NBA’s hopeful that 22 of the 30 franchises will have facilities open for voluntary workouts by Monday, sources say. https://t.co/O3yf2W0L1d

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) May 13, 2020

The league allowed the move in cities with looser stay at home orders from local governments. Jazz vice President of Basketball Operations Dennis Lindsey spoke about the Jazz practice guidelines in early May.

“We want to make sure the facility meets all of the league’s specifications and the local state health officials protocols,” Lindsey said. “Our biggest goal is to have the confidence of the players and the staff that they can enter our facilities safely.”

Currently, the league allows for four players to enter the facility at any one time. Furthermore, players can’t share one basket. Meanwhile, head coaches, top assistants, and front office members cannot aid in the workouts.

However, the league hopes that reopening its practice facilities will prevent its players from finding competitive games at local gyms.

Utah’s Yellow, Low-Risk Phase

While large portions of the state move to the yellow, low-risk phase of the coronavirus pandemic, Salt Lake Couty remains in the orange, moderate-risk phase.

Despite raising the limit on people at public gatherings to 50, the state still requests Utahns follow certain guidelines.

We have been tracking data across Utah, and working closely with local health departments to understand how COVID-19 is impacting our communities. Saturday morning at 12:01, much of the state will transition to low-risk, or yellow. #utcovid19 Guidelines for individuals here: pic.twitter.com/0XjTxEKNCT

— Gov. Gary Herbert (@GovHerbert) May 14, 2020

Individuals are asked to maintain six feet of social distancing when outside of the home. Additionally, the state recommends wearing masks when in public. Finally, members of the state are asked to limit out-of-state travel.

The state warns that in every phase, high-risk individuals operate under stricter instructions because they are more likely to suffer severe illness from COVID-19.