Could the Omicron variant threaten the world juniors?
Posted Dec 18, 2021 9:50 am.
With Canada and the world preparing for the next wave of COVID-19, there’s hope that the world junior men’s hockey championship in Edmonton and Red Deer, Alta. will happen.
All world junior teams are already in Alberta and are in quarantine. Players and staff were required to have two negative tests before flying to Canada. They undergo testing every day.
This is the second year COVID has overshadowed the tournament. And with Omicron threatening, COVID protocols are a top priority.
“There needs to be the highest quality daily rapid testing done, they need to stay in a bubble and some sort of isolation compared to the general population, and no fans,” said epidemiologist Dr. Brian Conway.
As of Friday night, there were no plans to limit spectators or cut them out completely, something Conway believes could be a huge mistake.
“Omicron is three-time more transmissible than Delta variant that’s dominating the pandemic as we speak.”
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A spokesperson for Hockey Canada says regular testing, masking, and physical distancing will all be strictly enforced throughout the tournament, and teams will be in a “protective environment” separate from the general public.
But the spread of Omicron won’t end when the last whistle is blown, warns Conway. He says players returning home could take the virus with them.
“They may take Omicron home where it maybe wasn’t before and create issues. That’s another consideration,” he said.
If player and staff tests all come back negative, teams will be cleared to go on ice for practice starting Saturday.
Pre-tournament games are scheduled to start Sunday, including Canada versus Switzerland in Red Deer.
The 10-country men’s world under-20 championship opens Dec. 26.
Slightly over 90 per cent of tickets for the 2022 tournament have been sold.
—With files from The Canadian Press.
