With all competing teams and staff now in the Edmonton bubble for the 2021 World Junior Championship, the IIHF has announced 10 positive COVID-19 results among the 2,000 tests administered.
The 10 positive results come from Team Germany and Team Sweden, according to the IIHF, with eight players from the German team testing positive and two staff members from the Swedish contingent.
Per the medical plan agreed upon with Alberta Health Services prior to the tournament, Team Germany will be in quarantine until Dec. 24 and Team Sweden will be in quarantine until Dec. 21. Those quarantine rules will exclude “players and staff who are exempt from serving a longer quarantine period based on previous PCR positive COVID-19 test that provide a personal immunity and no threat of infection to others,” according to the IIHF.
“The Event Medical Team and Executive Committee will ensure that the affected individuals get the care they require,” the tournament’s Event Executive Committee said, via a release. “Our number one priority is the health of the individuals and to ensure that we isolate these cases to keep the entire community and event safe.
“Our team continues to work with the Organizing Committee and all competing teams, and we will evaluate the status of all players and staff daily. Our goal remains to work through the quarantine period and establish a safe bubble for players to achieve their dream of competing in the World Juniors.”
The federation said they are in daily contact with AHS, and that all other teams will be released from quarantine once their test results have been confirmed.
The 2021 world juniors are slated to officially begin on Dec. 25, with the tournament wrapping up in a gold-medal game held on Jan. 5.
