More Positive Hockey Tests

As we continue through this period of self-isolation and mandatory quarantines, I cannot stress enough the importance in staying home and away from others now that hockey is starting to see its share of positive COVID-19 cases as symptoms emerge in players and testing is done. We already know of four NHL players and two NHL broadcasters who have contracted the virus, and now it seems that a team who was preparing for an upcoming IIHF World Championship has also been affected by the virus as China is reporting that its women's national team, who were practising in Washington, DC for the upcoming World Championship in Poland, has had two of its team members test positive for the virus.

The Chinese Ice Hockey Federation released the following details on Sunday.

"With the pandemic surging in the U.S., the team returned home on March 13 and none of its 11 members had a fever when their body temperature was checked upon landing. Then they were put in quarantine for 14 days as required and two of them were test positive at the end of the quarantine period.

"Now the two infected players are receiving medical treatment in a designated hospital, both feeling well with mild symptoms. The rest of the team are healthy and will receive further medical observation under quarantine."

Again, let me stress the importance of staying home, staying safe, and keeping the physical distance requirements in check while this pandemic is happening. After that reminder, though, you may be asking where the Chinese National Team was practising because that seems to be highly-relevant information when asking questions about where and when they may have contracted the virus.

As per this report on Xinhuanet.com, "the team participated in the Junior Women's Hockey League (JWHL) Challenge Cup at Kettler Capitals Iceplex, Washington from February 14 to 18." That doesn't mean they contracted the virus there if they only showed symptoms towards the end of their self-quarantine in late March. It's more likely they contracted the virus somewhere else away from the hockey rink against JWHL teams, but it should mean that anyone who had contact with the team in the first two weeks of March and specifically the last few days prior to and around March 13 was likely a carrier of the virus.

When medical experts talk about the spread of the virus, the twelve-day incubation period in humans is how this virus gets spread quickly without carriers showing virtually any symptoms as the team was in Washington and didn't have traces of the virus until they got home and nearly completed their quarantine. This is why we all need to stay home and be safe because that two-week gap between contraction of the virus and symptoms emerging is how this virus spread so fast across the globe.

I'm hoping that the two women from the Chinese National Team recover from this virus. Here's hoping these may be the last hockey players to report a positive test when it comes to COVID-19. And remember: stay home, stay safe, keep your distance.

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!