The NHL issued an updated memo to its players on Monday morning, giving them permission to return to their offseason homes and self-isolate until at least March 27 amid the COVID-19 pandemic. This is a significant change in its policy after the league originally instructed its players to stay in their home NHL cities.
Here's the full update from the NHL in bullet point form:
- Effective immediately, Players can opt to return home (outside of the Club's home city, including outside of North America, to extent flights are available).
- The self-quarantine period should continue within the Player's home through and including Friday, March 27, unless a longer period may be required in accordance with local mandates related to travel. Players should continue to report immediately any symptoms or testing results to Club medical staff.
- At the end of the self-quarantine period, and depending on world developments between now and then, consideration will be given to allowing the opening of Club facilities to Players in scheduled and coordinated small groups for voluntary training and care of the Players on the same basis as in the off-season.
- Our objective will be that, in addition to continuing regular updates, we will be able to provide high-level guidance on the potential of opening a training camp period roughly 45 days into the 60-day period covered by the CDC's directive.
It's a fluid situation all-around but given the CDC's recommendation of cancelling in-person events of 50 or more people for the next eight weeks, it doesn't appear the NHL will be returning anytime soon. At this point, the hope for play to resume is early May.
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