5 Tampa Bay Lightning employees test positive for covid-19
The Tampa Bay Lightning closed their facilities Thursday after five team employees tested positive for the coronavirus, a person with knowledge of the situation told the Associated Press.
The person spoke to the AP on Friday on the condition of anonymity because the NHL and the team are not announcing the closure. The NHL also no longer is announcing which teams individual players tested positive.
It was not clear how many Lightning players tested positive.
The closure comes some two weeks after players were allowed to return to their respective facilities to take part in voluntary on- and off-ice workouts. Players were allowed to skate in groups of up to six at a time.
The move to open facilities was the next step in the NHL’s bid to resume its season with a proposed 24-team expanded playoff format, with games being played in two hub cities.
The NHL projects teams to open training camps July 10.
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