Home / News / NHL announces nine additional players have tested positive for coronavirus since last week

NHL announces nine additional players have tested positive for coronavirus since last week

By Ian Oland

 1 Comment

July 6, 2020 11:38 am

The NHL announced new numbers on Monday for players who have tested positive for the coronavirus.

35 players in total have tested positive for COVID-19 since June 8, the opening of Phase 2 small-group activities. 23 have tested positive when returning to their NHL practice facilities while another 12 players tested positive “outside of the Phase 2 protocol.”

Nine additional players have contracted the virus since June 29.

The full statement reads:

As of Monday, July 6, the NHL has had 396 Players report to Club training/practice facilities for optional participation in Phase 2 activities. There have been in excess of 2,900 COVID-19 tests administered (including more than 1,400 this past week) to this group of Players. Those tests have resulted in a total of 23 returning confirmed positive test results for COVID-19.

In addition, since June 8 (the opening of Phase 2), the League is aware of 12 additional Players who have tested positive for COVID-19 outside of the Phase 2 Protocol. All Players who have tested positive have been self-isolated and are following CDC and Health Canada protocols. The NHL will continue to provide regular updates on the number of tests administered to Players and the results of those tests. The League will not be providing information on the identity of the Players or Clubs.

The news comes days after it was reported that four Blues players and a member of the coaching staff tested positive for coronavirus after visiting a Missouri bar with the general public.

Sunday, the NHL and NHLPA agreed to Phase 3 and Phase 4 return-to-play protocols and are currently finishing negotiations on a six-year CBA extension. Players are expected to vote this week on the new CBA and if they will return or not this summer.

The NHL is currently eyeing July 13 for Phase 3, the opening of training camps. The start of the 24-team playoff is slated to begin in August. Toronto and Edmonton are the hub cities.

,