COVID-19 And The NHL Shutdown. Well, NHL fans, it has now been twenty-five days since the NHL has closed Its collective door’s on the season due to the rapidly spreading pandemic known as the Coronavirus.
After learning that an NBA player has tested positive for the coronavirus, the NHL made the appropriate decision to halt the season at such a time that it is safe to resume games once more. Not since the 1918-1919 season has there been a stoppage due to a pandemic. That year the Stanley Cup was not awarded due to the Spanish Flu pandemic.
The Spanish, Flu-like coronavirus was an unusually deadly influenza pandemic. The Spanish Flu lasted from January 1918 to December 1920. In that time, the pandemic infected 500 million people-roughly 25% of the world’s population. The death toll is estimated to be between 17 million and 50 million and possibly as high as 100 million. The Spanish Flu rank’s as one of the most deadly epidemics of all time.
Considering how severe the coronavirus is and the fact that NHL players and NBA players share the same sports facilities all across North America, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman had no other choice but to make the prudent decision to suspend NHL hockey until it’s safe to resume play.
Below you can find the NHL statement on coronavirus.
At the time of this writing it has been revealed that a second Ottawa Senators player has tested positive for the coronavirus.
The team issued a statement claiming that the player was on a road trip that included games in San Jose, Anaheim, and Los Angeles.
Everyone that took part on the road trip has to California has been instructed to self quarantine on Friday, March 13th.
On the road trip to California, the team traveled with 52 people. Of those on the road trip, 44 have shown no symptoms, 8 have been tested, and 2 positive results have been confirmed. The team is still awaiting test results from tests that were taken during the latter part of last week. In addition to this, it has just been confirmed that two members of the Colorado Avalanche have also tested positive for Covid-19.
I wish everyone the best of health as the world fights against this terrible Covid-19 virus, and that we may all come through it unscathed.
UPDATE; four more Ottawa Senators have tested positive for COVID-19, the team announced on Wednesday, April 1, 2020. That brings the team total to six and 8 league-wide, including two cases from the Colorado Avalanche. The first two infection cases from the Senators have since made full recoveries.
Keep You’re Stick On The Ice.
Please, like, share, and subscribe. Thank You.
