NFL, NBA and NHL scramble to stem rise in covid-19 outbreaks

The NBA has followed the NFL in rolling out tighter covid protocols amid a sudden wave of positive cases while another postponed NHL game further clouded that league’s plan.

ReutersUpdate: Dec 18th, 2021 04:59 EST

The NBA has followed the NFL in rolling out tighter covid-19 protocols amid a sudden wave of positive cases while another postponed NHL game further clouded that league’s plan to send the world’s top players to the Beijing Olympics.

The National Basketball Association, in a memo obtained by Reuters on Friday, will increase testing from Dec. 26-Jan.8 and return to mask usage in many situations until agreed otherwise by the league and union representing its players.

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PORTLAND, OREGON – DECEMBER 17: Miles Bridges # 0 of the Charlotte Hornets looks to pass while defended by Larry Nance Jr. # 11 of the Portland Trail Blazers during the second half at Moda Center on December 17, 2021 in Portland, Oregon.Soobum ImAFP

As per the memo sent to teams on Thursday, players and staff will undergo daily testing with the exception of those who are on an off day, received a booster shot 14 days prior or recently recovered after a positive or inconclusive test result.

Players, regardless of vaccination or booster status, must also wear face masks while on the bench during games, traveling and in team facilities.

The enhanced measures come as the highly contagious Omicron variant threatens to intensify an already alarming surge of covid-19 cases in North America.

From last night's @notthefakeSVP… here's a look at how COVID is impacting the NBA, NFL & NHL. pic.twitter.com/eVFaq8VIYR

— Emily Kaplan (@emilymkaplan) December 17, 2021

NHL’s Olympic headache

The National Hockey League, which has also been dealing with a rise in covid-19 cases, said on Friday it postponed Saturday’s game between the host Montreal Canadiens and Boston Bruins.

Saturday’s game between the Canadiens and the Bruins has been postponed.https://t.co/mxWuMLoHSO

— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) December 17, 2021

The Montreal-Boston game is the 11th NHL game postponed this season, which does little to quell concerns regarding the league’s plan to send the world’s top players to the Feb. 4-20 Beijing Olympics.

The NHL agreed to a break in its schedule to make way for players to compete in Beijing with the caveat that it could withdraw on its own if an abundance of COVID-19 disruptions forced games to be rescheduled during the Olympic window.

The Toronto Maple Leafs said on Friday that captain John Tavares, who represented Canada and won gold at the 2014 Sochi Olympics, and a team mate entered the NHL’s covid-19 protocol and that the team’s practice has been cancelled.

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Dec 17, 2021; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; St. Louis Blues right wing Vladimir Tarasenko (91) is congratulated by teammates after scoring his second goal of the game against the Dallas Stars during the third period at Enterprise Center. Mandatory Credit: JefJeff CurryUSA TODAY Sports