National Post (National Edition)
Avs player tests positive for COVID-19
Team was in California at same time as Senators
OTTAWA • The Colorado Avalanche confirmed Thursday night that one of their players has been diagnosed with COVID-19.
The unnamed member of the Avalanche is only the third player in the NHL to test positive for the novel coronavirus. The Ottawa Senators confirmed last Saturday they had a second player on the roster who was in self-isolation at home recovering from the illness that has been spreading worldwide.
With the NHL schedule on pause since March 12, the Avalanche indicated they received the result of the positive test Thursday. The Avs also noted that the player has fully recovered from the symptoms and this comes exactly two weeks after the league decided to shut down because of the dangers of COVID-19.
“The Colorado Avalanche were advised (Thursday) that a player has tested positive for the COVID-19 virus,” the Avs said in the statement. “The player has been at home in isolation since the first symptoms appeared, has recovered and is back to normal. The Avalanche have notified anyone who has had known close contact with the athlete.”
It should be noted the Avalanche and Senators were both making trips through California just before the league was shut down.
The Senators, the first team to confirm a player had COVID-19 on March 17, faced the San Jose Sharks at the SAP Center on March 7 and then the Avalanche were in town the next night. Both of those games were played when health officials in Santa Clara County warned the Sharks there should be no large gatherings and indicated they may want to play in an empty arena or postpone the games.
The Sharks opted to go ahead with play that weekend with fans in the stands and indicated they were taking extra precautions with the cleaning of the building. The Avalanche then faced the Los Angeles Kings on March 9 at the Staples Center to wrap up their road trip, while Ottawa was in Anaheim on March 10 and then closed out the schedule against the Kings before the league determined it needed to shut down.
The Senators indicated Saturday that eight of the 52 people aboard the club’s Air Canada Jetz charter had been tested for the virus by local health authorities. Only those that were showing symptoms were given the test for the virus and presumably some of those are still waiting for results (the Senators indicated in a statement on the weekend they’d confirm any further positive tests).
The Avalanche didn’t release the name of the player and, as has been stated here in the past, that’s for privacy reasons. If the players decides to come forward publicly, then that’s up to him. Colorado officials insist anybody who needs to know has been informed.
“The health and safety of our players, staff, fans, and community remains our highest priority,” the Colorado statement added. “The Avalanche organization will continue to work in conjunction with our medical staff and public health officials to do everything we can to help the Avalanche community remain safe and healthy during this time.”
This doesn’t mean every member of the Avalanche will be undergoing testing for COVID-19. The NHL stated Monday they only recommended testing for people that were showing symptoms.
“If a player exhibits symptoms or becomes sick and testing for COVID-19 is recommended by club medical staff, the player will be tested,” the league said. “We do not anticipate the need to conduct League-wide testing for all NHL players for COVID-19 prior to their returning to NHL club facilities.”
The return to the arenas to train has been delayed and may not happen anytime soon.
All players were instructed by the league and the NHL Players’ Association to self-quarantine at home for 14 days in a March 13 email from deputy commissioner Bill Daly. During a conference call with the league’s general managers Tuesday afternoon, that period was extended until the end of the day on April 3 to help try to slow down the spread of the disease.