Outbreak Declared For Warriors

UPDATE - The WHL has now approved the Warriors to return to team activities the SHA active outbreak status is as of Sunday still in effect.

First the Western Hockey League (WHL) suspended play but now the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) has declared a COVID - 19 outbreak for the Moose Jaw Warriors hockey team.

As of January 3rd the SHA has declared an active outbreak this was followed by a Friday news release by the WHL announcing 15 of 22 teams, including the Moose Jaw Warriors, are now effected by COVID under the WHL' COVID protocols.

“At this time, 15 Clubs have recently paused team activities as a result of multiple players and staff being added to the WHL COVID-19 Protocol List due to exhibiting symptoms or having tested positive for COVID-19,” the league said in a statement.

The league suspended the Warriors play, plus practices and other team activities due to COVID - 19 based on the WHL's protocols before the Province posted the declared outbreak.

An outbreak is declared when two or more people contract the virus at the same public place at the same time or the cases are related to one another.

The league as well as the Warriors have not listed how many, if any, team members have been affected but the WHL protocol also includes coaching and other team staff.

Under the present provincial guidelines people who test positive to the virus must see isolate for five days down from ten (10) days as previously required.

No firm date has been given as to when the WHL will recommence play by all its teams.

At the present time the airborne Omicron COVID - 19 variant is the dominant variant in Saskatchewan.

The SHA recently restricted visitors to Care Homes due to the community spread of the Omicron variant.