3:08 PM: Lightning GM Julien BriseBois released the following statement through Twitter concerning the positive tests:
We have learned that three players and additional staff members have tested positive for the COVID-19 virus. Those players have been self-isolated following CDC protocals and are asymptomatic other than a few cases of low-grade fever. Those who have been in contact with these individuals have been notified. The Lightning continue testing and are strictly following all NHL and government procedures as part of the league’s Phase 2 guidelines. Upon receiving positive tests yesterday, team training facilities were immediately closed with all players and staff being sent home. Those facilities will remain temporarily shut down until we can ensure a safe environment.
12:16 PM: While NHL facilities are open as part of the second phase of the NHL’s Return to Play plan, at least one will be shut down temporarily. TSN’s Bob McKenzie reports (all Twitter links) that three Lightning players and two staff members have tested positive for COVID-19. The expectation is that if all other players and staff test negative, the facility will re-open in the near future although Diana C. Nearhos of the Tampa Bay Times reports that Amalie Arena (where the team was skating) will be closed to non-essential staff until July 6th.
The identities of the players and staff were not identified. As McKenzie noted in an Insider Trading appearance on Thursday, that information is unlikely to be made available. The NHL (in conjunction with the NHLPA) appears to be shifting towards the approach of the NBA where an announcement will simply be made that someone tested positive without making any other type of identification. To that end, Joe Smith, Michael Russo, and Craig Custance of The Athletic report (subscription required) that there are other positive cases around the league at the moment that have not been announced.
It’s worth noting that at this stage in the process, the skates are voluntary and as such, there is no league-mandated quarantine in place. The expectation remains that if play resumes (likely in early August), there will be a full quarantine for both hub cities.
While one set of positive tests at this stage isn’t going to cause a significant setback, it certainly serves as a sobering reminder that there is still a long way to go towards a safe and healthy resumption of play as the pandemic continues on.
Uh oh
HELLOOOOOOOOOO
Cancel the season.
Show of hands of those who are *not* surprised at the daily disclosures of increased COVID-19 diagnoses? I thought so (too many to count!)… Bettman’s playoff train has the engine on fire, the caboose, and multiple boxcars in the middle now smoldering, ready to ignite… Kinda reminds you of the end scene in “Animal House”… (All is well, don’t panic!)
Matthews tested positive also
your excitement over players getting sick is disturbing
How was I excited? I just stated Matthews also tested positive
i wasnt responding to you, was talking to mac
@itsmeheyhi – I’m NOT getting excited over players potentially getting sick. I AM wanting testing that is more accurate than throwing darts at a concrete dart board. I don’t want ANY player OR their families getting sick from this junk. That said, I’d love to have a finish to this season, but the waters are getting more muddied by the day…
When Dr. Fauci spoke about the need for a “ bubble”, some scoffed. Is it a coincidence that Blue Jays ( Dunedin), Phillies (Clearwater), and Lightning ( Tampa/St. Pete) are all in the same area, and that players after practice go to same restaurants and bars are cross- contaminating each other?
You can’t practice safe distancing only part of the time.
@grouchonyy – George Fenneman concurs. The problem we have, at least on this continent, is that a bunch of belligerents have unilaterally decided that that “crappy rule” is no longer valid and they will be more than happy to be the new COVID-Carls of the world. Typhoid Mary’s got nothin’ on them…
The only thing Dr. Fauci did was prolong the misery by keeping people from normal social contact. Viruses diminish in strength the more they pass thru the population, so guess what happens when people are staying inside with little social contact? Herd immunity isn’t a newly concocted medical theory.
But fear not, your favorite players will survive and we’ll have hockey again in about two years……or until CV-19 never infects anyone ever again!
I saw a few of them driving into the team’s practice facility this very morning after my skate. Either the closure of facilities is just lip service or they meant only Amalie Arena. They’re definitely still skating.
its probably team operations. i could see it being that they can close the place, but the players still have access to the facility.
They were most certainly getting on the ice. The rink employee said as much when he told us that we would be using the other sheet because of it.