AP – NBA players who test positive for COVID-19 now have a quicker path to return after the league completed a significant update to its health and safety protocols.

The biggest change is that isolation periods for players who test positive may now be shortened to six days from what has been the customary 10 provided those players are asymptomatic and meet other testing standards.

Vaccinated NBA players and coaches can now clear quarantine after six days if Covid-testing data shows they’re no longer at risk to be infectious, according to a memo distributed to teams Monday and obtained by ESPN.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 27, 2021

Teams were told of the new protocols Monday in a memo sent by the league, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press.

Also Monday, Phoenix coach Monty Williams and Portland coach Chauncey Billups entered the NBA’s health and safety protocols, according to two people with direct knowledge of those situations.