Relaxed rules bring relief

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This article was published 01/02/2022 (1320 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

PHILADELPHIA — After more than two seasons of daily testing for COVID-19, the Winnipeg Jets are clearly relieved the NHL and players union have updated league health protocols.

Fully vaccinated players (99 per cent of the more than 700 players) are now free from mandatory daily tests, according to changes announced Monday. In addition, players won’t be required to test if they are identified as a close contact, given they aren’t showing symptoms.

Currently, players and travelling staff undergo daily PCR testing for COVID-19, including on their days off.

The new guidelines officially kick in after the weekend, as teams return to their respective clubs following the NHL all-star break. It’s part of a joint mission between the NHL and the NHL Player’s Association to ease a brewing frustration among the league’s athletes regarding the NHL’s safety measures.

A pair of Jets that spoke Tuesday morning say it’s a positive step.

“It’s huge, I really think it is,” said defenceman Brenden Dillon, hours before the Jets and Flyers collided. “As athletes, to be on the sidelines watching, we’re all pretty competitive guys and you just feel, especially being on the road and getting stuck in a hotel for a couple of days, it’s unfortunate. We are all vaccinated, we understand that we’re doing our best and our part to kind of socially distance or go through all the protocols that we can.

“Ultimately, we want everyone to be safe, we want everyone to feel comfortable, and I think we’re accomplishing that still with these new rules.”

Fully vaccinated members of the team’s travelling party will only be tested if they develop symptoms associated with COVID-19 or require testing for cross-border travel. In other words, players will only need to be tested if they’re sick or to fulfill federal government travel mandates in Canada and the U.S.

The NHL noted the changes reflect the seriousness of the highly contagious nature of the Omicron variants, while also recognizing the high positivity rates among players between mid-December and mid-January, and the declining positivity rate that’s occurred since that time.

“When you’re testing every day, you’re kind of looking for something that, quite frankly, almost isn’t there for a lot of guys,” said forward Andrew Copp. “Based on the ebbs and flows of the case counts and the way the variants work in the seasonality of the disease, it seems like we’re on the downslope. So, that’s a positive, and you won’t see as many cases.

“But then again, you won’t be getting the cases where guys don’t feel anything and probably are way less likely to spread it.”

The guidelines also came with several recommendations for teams, including the use of N95 or KN95 masks, as well as encouraging all personnel to limit interaction with the broader community “as much as possible.”

It also “strongly recommends” players get the COVID-19 booster shots, reinforcing vaccines remain the most reliable way to combat the harsh effects of the virus.

It will still be up to the players to self-report any occurring symptoms, which would result in a test. Ultimately, though, fewer tests will mean fewer players testing positive, and less worry from teams having to juggle rosters with players who have contracted COVID-19 but aren’t showing any symptoms.

“I will say this, it’s really hard to be told you can’t come to work when you’re not feeling anything and they’re telling you you’re positive,” said Jets interim head coach Dave Lowry. “So, from that standpoint, it puts a sense of relief in that you’re not getting tested every day. Hopefully, if guys are symptomatic they let you know, to keep it out of the room.”

jeff.hamilton@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @jeffkhamilton