Dr. Raul Canlas said teams have nothing to worry about if protocols laid down by the PBA for its season restart are strictly followed.
The league's medical consultant gave his assurance on Wednesday during a briefing with team managers and safety officers of the 12 PBA teams set to depart for Clark next week.
Preparations for the PBA's return to play gets started Wednesday with Magnolia, Meralco, Phoenix, TNT and Dyip undergoing swab test. Alaska, Blackwater, NorthPort, NLEX, Rain or Shine, Ginebra and San Miguel Beer are scheduled to do the same Thursday.
Before entering the bubble, players and team officials are restricted to their homes for the next five days after undergoing a swab test until their scheduled departure for Clark next week to get going with their scrimmages.
"If we maintain the 'bubble' I think there's nothing to worry about," Canlas assured.
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Under league protocol players are also required to undergo a swab test once a week once they are inside the bubble.
The PBA may do away with the weekly swab test, though, should Antigen testing gets DOH approval.
"Antigen (testing) will be done every 3 days and it's 80 percent sensitive," Canlas said.
He said Antigen test results could be available within 15 to 30 minutes.
During the briefing safety officers and team staff were told to regularly monitor the players and immediately report if anyone shows symptoms.
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Dr. Canlas also said that all players on the court including officials and referees of a certain game will have to undergo testing when asked what should be done in case one of the players turned a positive result.
On asymptomatic cases, Canlas said the player must immediately have two negative RT-PCR tests 24 hours a part. If the two test don't match, the players will remain in isolation and take a third test after 24 hours.
If the third test comes back negative and the player is not showing Covid-19 symptoms, he will be allowed to play.
