The NHL is reducing the standard isolation period for players who test positive for COVID-19 from 10 days to five, multiple outlets reported Wednesday.
The move follows similar changes made by the NFL and NBA this week and aligns with new recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The new protocol is subject to approval from local jurisdictions, which includes the five Canadian provinces that have NHL teams, ESPN reported. In Canada, the 10-day isolation requirement remains, so the new protocols, for now, apply to only U.S.-based teams.
Under the new rules, players can leave isolation after five games if they have a negative test and no symptoms. They still must wear a mask for five more days except when they are on the ice, ESPN reported.
The NHL has postponed 80 games this season due to COVID-19 outbreaks.
–Field Level Media
