Sea Dogs release COVID update

SAINT JOHN - Amid rumours and speculation circulating around comment sections, the Saint John Sea Dogs released a COVID-19 update that provided a bit of clarity.

On Thursday, the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League announced that a Sea Dogs staff member had tested positive for COVID-19.

Here's the statement:

Our Team, led by our team Covid Manager, is working closely with public health, our medical team, and League officials to ensure the safety of everyone.

The safety and health of everyone is our top priority.

All of our players are in confinement as well as the majority of our staff. 

Testing is ongoing and no new positive cases have been reported within the organization. The staff member who tested positive is sick and in isolation. 

It is not travel-related. The staff member has not been outside the Atlantic Bubble since prior to training camp.

No other staff members or players have been outside the Atlantic Bubble since joining the team for training camp.

The staff member experienced sudden onset of multiple symptoms following this past weekend and received a covid test the same day. They have been vigilant and in isolation since that date.

The staff member has not visited any of the following businesses this month, who have publicly listed exposure notices: Five and Dime, Freddie’s Pizza, Eighty Three Bar Arcade, and the Water Street Dinner Theatre.

We hope everyone continues to stay safe during these unprecedented times.

The statement was released just before the Province of New Brunswick placed the Saint John region back into the orange phase. Seven positive COVID-19 cases in the region were announced at a news conference on Friday.

The orange phase means sports teams can only practice amongst themselves, meaning games are unlikely to take place until Saint John returns to yellow. "Recreational and sport organizations may operate but are limited to practices and/or skills and drills within a single team," reads the government website.

The Moncton region was placed into the orange phase on Thursday. Meanwhile, in Nova Scotia, new restrictions placed on the Halifax area appear to mean the Mooseheads will have to further reduce Scotiabank Centre capacity beginning next week.