The New York Giants had a COVID-19 scare earlier this week with 13 members of the organization testing positive on Tuesday. There were additional positive tests on Wednesday.
However, 12 of the 13 who tested positive on Tuesday re-tested negative on Wednesday. Only running backs coach Burton Burns tested positive twice and was promptly isolated from the team.
Three players — running back Saquon Barkley, safety Xavier McKinney and guard Matt Skura — missed practice due to COVID-19 protocols. Barkley and McKinney were later placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list.
On Thursday morning, the Giants pushed back their entire schedule and canceled all in-person press conferences, instead opting to conduct them virtually. That indicated more positive tests possible sprung up.
However, the Giants announced on Thursday afternoon that they have paused the use of the Rapid Mesa Test and instead will only use PCR tests following an “unusually high number” of false positives.
“As a precautionary measure, we canceled in-facility meetings for players this morning and closed our office to non-football staff. Football meetings are being conducted virtually. Players, unless their test results are still being assessed under COVID protocols, will return this afternoon for practice,” the team said in a statement.
“Bio-Reference Laboratories (BRL) is experiencing an unusually high number of false positives using the Rapid Mesa Test at our facility. With the exception of one individual, all of the positive Mesa test results over the last two days have come back negative through PCR testing. The laboratory is working with experts to determine the source of the problem.
“The NFL and BRL are monitoring this situation closely. We are temporarily halting the use of the Rapid Mesa Test and administering PCR tests only.”
The Giants did not clarify who the “one individual” was who continues to test positive, but it can only be one of Burns, Barkley or McKinney. And among the three, it is known that Barkley is fully vaccinated. The status of the other two is unclear.