New Hampshire health officials investigate COVID-19 cases linked to hockey facility
The Department of Health and Human Services is investigating more than a dozen positive COVID-19…
The Department of Health and Human Services is investigating more than a dozen positive COVID-19 cases associated with the Rinks at Exeter.>> Download the free WMUR app”The majority of COVID spread on youth teams has been associated with hockey, hockey academies and some of these regional competitive sports teams,” said state epidemiologist Dr. Benjamin Chan.Health officials said they’re also aware of a hockey referee who tested positive after working a game Oct. 3 at the Merrill Fay Arena in Laconia. The referee was also involved in games at the Biddeford Arena in Maine. Maine health officials said it’s possible 400 players were exposed.”It is very much subject to change as we learn more about what exactly the dynamics were,” said Dr. Nirav Shah, director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention.There have been a series of cases linked to youth sports. Merrimack High School postponed activities for six sports teams after COVID-19 cases were reported last week. In Raymond, two middle schoolers and five elementary school students are working remotely after a teammate on their recreational league soccer team tested positive for COVID-19.Raymond Superintendent Tina McCoy said there are procedures in place to avoid a similar situation within the district.”They’re prescreened for all the symptoms that you would see on any COVID-19 checklist and temperatures taken,” she said. “We also have other protocols in place. Social distancing. They do wear masks.”Health officials said they have seen more clusters in recreation and traveling teams than in schools.A manager for the Rinks at Exeter could not be reached for comment.As for reevaluating New Hampshire’s youth sports guidelines, Chan said the state is looking at that, and it would include input from the governor, his reopening task force and the Attorney General’s Office.
The Department of Health and Human Services is investigating more than a dozen positive COVID-19 cases associated with the Rinks at Exeter.
>> Download the free WMUR app
“The majority of COVID spread on youth teams has been associated with hockey, hockey academies and some of these regional competitive sports teams,” said state epidemiologist Dr. Benjamin Chan.
Health officials said they’re also aware of a hockey referee who tested positive after working a game Oct. 3 at the Merrill Fay Arena in Laconia. The referee was also involved in games at the Biddeford Arena in Maine.
Maine health officials said it’s possible 400 players were exposed.
“It is very much subject to change as we learn more about what exactly the dynamics were,” said Dr. Nirav Shah, director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
There have been a series of cases linked to youth sports. Merrimack High School postponed activities for six sports teams after COVID-19 cases were reported last week. In Raymond, two middle schoolers and five elementary school students are working remotely after a teammate on their recreational league soccer team tested positive for COVID-19.
Raymond Superintendent Tina McCoy said there are procedures in place to avoid a similar situation within the district.
“They’re prescreened for all the symptoms that you would see on any COVID-19 checklist and temperatures taken,” she said. “We also have other protocols in place. Social distancing. They do wear masks.”
Health officials said they have seen more clusters in recreation and traveling teams than in schools.
A manager for the Rinks at Exeter could not be reached for comment.
As for reevaluating New Hampshire’s youth sports guidelines, Chan said the state is looking at that, and it would include input from the governor, his reopening task force and the Attorney General’s Office.
