ROH Details Their New COVID-19 Testing Protocol

As noted this week, Ring Of Honor is taking steps to begin television tapings later this month in their home state of Maryland. This comes after nearly six months of the company being on hiatus due to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic.

ROH's official website is providing details on the safety measures they are taking to return to production as normal as possible, as seen below. They make it clear that for the safety of talent, staff and crew, no fans are permitted to attend any ROH events for the foreseeable future.

Here are the key components of the protocol, directly from rohwrestling.com:

* Two weeks prior to the event, talent and referees are required to undergo the first NMT (nasal mid-turbinate) molecular PCR swab test.

* Within three days of the event, talent and referees will be required to undergo a second NMT molecular PCR swab test. They must be immediately isolated/sequestered after undergoing the second test. Separate hotel accommodations and separate eating arrangements will be required for participants, who must remain isolated until arriving at the event to work.

* On the day of the event (or, in the case of wrestling activity spanning more than one day, on the last day of the individual engaging in competition or participation), talent and referees will be required to undergo a third NMT molecular PCR swab test. The third test is being required for contact tracing being conducted by, and being documented by, the commission. The commission considers contact tracing to be essential to reducing the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

* All individuals entering the venue must have his or her temperature taken and recorded at the door via an infrared thermometer. No one will be permitted entry into the venue with a temperature reading of 100 degrees Fahrenheit or higher.

* Any individual other than the participants who is either working in the ring enclosure area or physically interacting with participants (i.e. an athletic trainer) must undergo the second and third NMT molecular PCR swab tests in the respective time frames. All such individuals other than the ring announcer will be required to wear a mask covering both the nose and mouth at all times.

* All other individuals present at the venue in any capacity will be required to wear a mask covering both the nose and mouth at all times and to maintain a social distance from each other of at least six feet at all times.

ROH mentions how they are adhering to strict medical and administrative guidelines instituted by the Maryland State Athletic Commission. They have been on break since March until finding a safe way to resume the in-ring action. During that time, the company continued to pay it's talent and staff.