Even with hub, CFL faces problems, says disease expert

TORONTO — Even if the CFL plays an abbreviated 2020 season in a hub city under the strictest of health-and-safety guidelines, an infectious diseases doctor believes there will still be positive tests for the novel coronavirus that could force the league play to end abruptly.

The CFL is reportedly looking at playing in a single hub or two hub cities to limit teams’ exposure to the virus.

But Dr. Isaac Bogoch, an infectious diseases expert at Toronto General Hospital and associate professor of medicine at the University of Toronto, said positive tests remain possible and could threaten play.

“Nothing in this era is going to be without risk,” Bogoch said in an interview. “There are certain things we can do to minimize the risk, but, as with anything, there’s going to be some element of risk of acquiring this infection.

“The league and players can work with medical professionals to make this as safe as possible, but at the end of the day they’ll have to sit down collectively and decide: ‘Is this worthwhile?’ ”

The CFL and CFL Players’ Association continue to discuss amendments to their current collective bargaining agreement that would allow for a partial season. The earliest action would begin is September, but commissioner Randy Ambrosie has said a cancelled campaign also remains possible.