KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association has announced an update of its recommended COVID protocols and policies for the 2021-22 winter and spring sport seasons, as approved today by the Association’s COVID Task Force.
 
The MIAA policies for winter and spring seasons will follow the general updated guidance from the CDC and the NCAA. MIAA recommendations state that COVID-19 prevention and management strategies should be developed at the school and community level, in each case with federal, state and local public health guidance.
 
Decisions on mask requirements for visitors, student-athletes and employees will be made at the local level by MIAA member institutions. Requirements could vary from one institution to another based on local health guidance and local virus conditions. The MIAA continues to encourage the use of masks by all Tier 1 individuals (whether vaccinated or not vaccinated) when engaged in nonphysical team activities, including team travel.
 
Decisions on COVID testing will also be made by each institution with guidance from local health officials and are to be based on current community virus conditions. Each institution will determine who gets tested, how often testing occurs and the type of the test. Institutions will also determine campus isolation and quarantine timelines.
 
Following the Athlete COVID protocol recommendations from the U.S. Council for Athletes’ Health (USCAH), the MIAA policies suggest the following timelines for vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals:

• Fully immunized (vaccinated and boosted) individuals on a team who test positive should isolate for five days and then if asymptomatic/fever free, wear a mask around other for five additional days. These individuals may avoid post-isolation masking requirements if they are asymptomatic with a negative test on the fifth day, or after two negative tests. These individuals are not required to quarantine if they have been in close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID.
• Fully vaccinated but not boosted individuals on a team who test positive should isolate for five days and then if asymptomatic/fever free, wear a mask around other for five additional days. These individuals may avoid post-isolation masking requirements if they are asymptomatic with a negative test on the fifth day, or after two negative tests. A five-day quarantine is recommended if they’ve been in close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID. Individuals should watch for symptoms and get tested five days after the contact.
• Unvaccinated/not fully vaccinated individuals on a team who test positive should isolate for five days and then if asymptomatic/fever free, wear a mask around others for five additional days. It is recommended that these individuals are unable to test out of their isolation masking requirements. A five-day quarantine is recommended if they’ve been in close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID. Individuals should watch for symptoms and get tested five days after the contact.

If an MIAA team is unable to compete as a result of a positive test and contact tracing of the Tier 1 individuals on the team, the involved intuitions for that contest and the conference office will work to reschedule the postponed event. All decisions on whether games get postponed and rescheduled will be made by campus and/or community health professionals and decisions for the campus will be communicated to the conference office by the school CEO (or his/her designee). If the MIAA event cannot be rescheduled, it will be declared a no contest (no win and no loss for either school).
 
To view each MIAA institution’s campus action plans in relation to COVID recommendations and protocols, visit the Association’s Fan Information page.