The St. Louis Blues are the latest NHL team forced to grapple with too many positive coronavirus tests.

The Athletic’s Jeremy Rutherford and Scott Burnside reported that the Blues canceled practice on Friday after multiple unnamed players tested positive for COVID-19.

The Blues were scheduled to take the ice at Centene Community Ice Center in Maryland Heights, Missouri, before receiving word. Approximately two-thirds of the Blues’ roster has been skating at the facility lately.

The Blues canceled practices due to ‘multiple’ COVID-19 positive tests, sources told @jprutherford https://t.co/o596J3kdtT

— The Athletic NHL (@TheAthleticNHL) July 4, 2020

The Blues news comes as the NHL attempts to finalize an agreement with the NHLPA on a return-to-play plan and CBA extension. The NHL announced on Monday that 26 players have tested positive for COVID-19 since the start of Phase 2 in mid-June.

Friday, Missouri fell just short of a new daily state record for COVID-19 cases with 547. The one-day record is 553 which was set last week.

Two weeks ago, the Tampa Bay Lightning were forced to close its facility for several days after several players and staff tested positive.

The positive tests show risky any return-to-play plan will be with such a contagious virus.

Headline photo: Pixabay