NHL says it’ll toughen COVID-19 guidelines to sort out Omicron variant risk

The NHL and Nationwide Hockey League Gamers’ Affiliation have returned to tighter COVID-19 security measures.

The league confirmed Saturday morning that it was adopting, efficient instantly, new guidelines amid the emergence of the Omicron variant and the explosion of constructive take a look at outcomes, notably prior to now few days.

Measures embody restrictions on indoor eating whereas on the street, carrying masks whereas in membership amenities and through journey, together with when on buses, planes and on the lodge, and every day testing, besides on days off.

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Extra pre-game testing could also be applied on a case-by-case foundation when an outbreak happens inside a workforce.

Gamers are urged to put on N95, KN95 or surgical masks reasonably than material masks. Membership-organized vacation events aren’t permitted, and all members of a workforce’s travelling group are prohibited from signing autographs or partaking with followers.

The announcement comes a day after the league shut down the Calgary Flames, Colorado Avalanche and Florida Panthers due to COVID-19 issues. The Flames have 32 folks within the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol, 19 gamers and 13 membership staff.

These enhanced measures, meant each to forestall the contraction or transmission of COVID-19 and early detection of constructive instances, will stay in impact by way of the vacation season and will likely be re-evaluated by Jan. 7 by the NHL and NHLPA.

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“Given the elevated variety of constructive instances in our league inside the final two weeks, and altering societal realities with the brand new omicron COVID-19 variant, the NHLPA and NHL have collectively agreed that each one golf equipment shall be required to observe enhanced preventive and detection measures,” the league mentioned.

Moments after the announcement, Detroit positioned three gamers, coach Jeff Blashill and assistant coach Alex Tanguay in protocol forward of Saturday evening’s house sport in opposition to New Jersey.

Grand Rapids Griffins head coach Ben Simon and assistant coach Todd Krygier have been known as as much as work the bench tonight alongside Purple Wings assistant Doug Houda for Detroit’s house sport in opposition to the New Jersey Devils.

The Purple Wings have the one participant within the league, Tyler Bertuzzi, who just isn’t vaccinated.

Whereas postponed video games could also be rescheduled, all eyes on are the calendar: The NHL plans to permit its gamers to take part within the Winter Olympics in China in February — until COVID-19 disruptions show to be an excessive amount of.

The NHL has till Jan. 10 to opt-out of the Winter Video games with out monetary penalty however retains the precise to cancel its plans up till gamers are scheduled to journey to Beijing.

—With information from The Related Press