(Edmonton) The Edmonton Elks have announced that nine players have tested positive for Kovid-19 since returning from a clash with the BC Lions.
Team President and Chief Executive Chris Presson said the players and staff were alone and the team training center was closed for seven days.
“Everyone has been tested and we will continue to test them every day until we get out of them,” Presson said.
The update comes a day after the Canadian Football League postponed the duel between Elx and Toronto Argonauts on Thursday. The number of positive players was not shared then.
“The last two or three days have been tough, to keep it that way,” Presson added.
The Elks’ last game was in Vancouver on Thursday night, when they beat the Lions 21-16. The CFL said the Lions would be closely monitored this season, but the risk of infection was not high. British Columbia forces face Ottawa Red and Black on 28 August.
Presson explained that the positive tests came from a “mixture” of vaccinated and unvaccinated players, but he did not release the names.
“Apparently we caught the virus somewhere and we have to be very careful,” Presson said. I would say that this is not only a red flag for our organization, it is also for the entire league. ”
Presson said he believes the postponed game with the Argonauts will take place next season.
According to CFL protocols, a club struggling with COVID-19 loses 1-0 if the game is stopped and restarted due to COVID-19. If both teams have problems with the virus, they both deal with the loss.
In each of these cases, if a team can prove that at least 85% of contract players have been vaccinated at least once, they will receive their salary even if the match is stopped. If the total is less than 85%, players will not be paid.
Presson could not say how many Elx players were vaccinated other than the number “more than zero”.
When asked about reports that Elx had the lowest vaccination rates in the CFL, Presson pointed out that at least two other teams had lower rates when they last saw the numbers.
“Following the protocols developed by the league for us means we can only do what we can,” he stressed.
After the first three weeks of the CFL season, Elks were the only team to report positive cases for COVID-19.
Elx’s next game is scheduled for Labor Day against the Calgary Stampeders.
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