"I don't think sports is really at the top of the list but getting the economy going again is a matter of national security. Our energy system is in danger of collapse. A failed US economy will kill a lot more people than the virus will."

This!!

Poverty has killed a lot more people than the virus ever will. But, I agree that we have to get a handle on this thing first. Massive and widespread testing needs to start being conducted. Unfortunately, we did not have a stockpile of 330 million test kits for a previously unknown virus sitting in a warehouse somewhere. The logistics required to do it are immense. Regrettably.

Not if they are all tested each day? Right?

Not saying you’re wrong just confirming
- Wingdestroyer

Are you aware that a negative test result does not mean you don't have the virus?


I'll ask again, you said the player need to be quarantined between games. How do they do that?

I was just pointing out that sports isn't a frivolous thing - it is economically important and many folks would like it to return for reasons other than rooting for their team.
- Scoob

I don't think sports is really at the top of the list but getting the economy going again is a matter of national security. Our energy system is in danger of collapse. A failed US economy will kill a lot more people than the virus will.
- MJL

Sure, I just don't think we can assume that sectors built around mass gatherings will bounce back immediately, if at all. And I don't think we can assume that most of the working people of this country will still have disposable income left to spend on live sports. We're probably in for a very different landscape when all is said and done.

Sure, I just don't think we can assume that sectors built around mass gatherings will bounce back immediately, if at all. And I don't think we can assume that most of the working people of this country will still have disposable income left to spend on live sports. We're probably in for a very different landscape when all is said and done.
- Tomahawk

I agree with you 100%. Which is why I think this talk of the fans wearing masks, and the players quarantined between games is all far fetched. We don't know when ordinary people are going to resume everyday activities, let alone sports start back up. Then again there are the knuckleheads who are moving around and congregating as if nothing is happening.

They'll never allow that. They will need to quarantine everyone. How can they quarantine and isolate players between games?
- MJL

What are you talking about? Do you understand what rapid test means?

I will write the algorithm for you

0. For every team, start with a pool of healthy players and staff. They cannot interact with anyone else for the rest of season/playoffs but themselves.

1. Everyone tested at x AM on day n, n=1,2,..., Results in by x+1 hours. Individuals isolated individually from all human contact between test and result.

2. If all negative, no more testing, players free to mingle, go to day n+1, set n+1 = n.

3. If any positive, weed out infected, continue confinement, repeat testing at x+2 for everyone else.

4. If no more positives, go to step 2 above, else step 3, setting x+1=x and so on.

Given that you start with a core of healthy people, and mingle only amongst the healthy, there is no chance of infection unless there is something very random or an earlier testing error. Quick rapid elimination will weed out such random events/errors.

What are you talking about? Do you understand what rapid test means?

I will write the algorithm for you

0. For every team, start with a pool of healthy players and staff. They cannot interact with anyone else for the rest of season/playoffs but themselves.

1. Everyone tested at x AM on day n, n=1,2,..., Results in by x+1 hours. Individuals isolated individually from all human contact between test and result.

2. If all negative, no more testing, players free to mingle, go to day n+1, set n+1 = n.

3. If any positive, weed out infected, continue confinement, repeat testing at x+2 for everyone else.

4. If no more positives, go to step 2 above, else step 3, setting x+1=x and so on.

Given that you start with a core of healthy people, and mingle only amongst the healthy, there is no chance of infection unless there is something very random or an earlier testing error. Quick rapid elimination will weed out such random events/errors.
- PT21

Your algorithm is a failure. They won't be able to do it that way. Testing everyone everyday does not eliminate the chances of infections passed on. What don't you get? Especially the part about not interacting with anyone else between games.

I'll ask for the 3rd time, how do they quarantine the players between games? Clearly you have not thought this out well.

Your algorithm is a failure. They won't be able to do it that way. Testing everyone everyday does not eliminate the chances of infections passed on. What don't you get? Especially the part about not interacting with anyone else between games.

I'll ask for the 3rd time, how do they quarantine the players between games? Clearly you have not thought this out well.
- MJL

Sigh.

They cannot see anyone. However, its fine if they want to be with families. Then the families cannot interact with anyone else. Essentially, you need to create a wall of separation between those known to be healthy and those outside, and the wall must be rigid.

It's very extreme, but theoretically feasible. They will get their millions, but have to give up social life, and when I say give up, I mean completely give up.

For every team, start with a pool of healthy players and staff. They cannot interact with anyone else for the rest of season/playoffs but themselves.
- PT21

If you're Claude Giroux, would you agree to do this? Leave your wife and newborn for weeks/months to fend for themselves during a global crisis?

Sigh.

They cannot see anyone. However, its fine if they want to be with families. Then the families cannot interact with anyone else. Essentially, you need to create a wall of separation between those known to be healthy and those outside, and the wall must be rigid.

It's very extreme, but theoretically feasible. They will get their millions, but have to give up social life, and when I say give up, I mean completely give up.
- PT21

it's not theoretically feasible. It's absurd. What about the support people in the arenas that need to be there for the arena to operate? The engineers, off ice people, security, etc? They need to be isolated also? If the players are isolated, how are they fed? Do the people involved in that also have to be isolated. How about the visiting team. Say the Flyers are playing Florida at home. How does Florida get to Philly? All the airplane support people also have to be isolated? The pilots, the stewardesses? How about the baggage handlers? Team trainers who handle the equipment. They have to be isolated also? Where does the visting team stay while in town? In an isolated hotel? Now all of the staff there needs to be isolated? Get the picture?

Stupid algorithm's

If you're Claude Giroux, would you agree to do this? Leave your wife and newborn for weeks/months to fend for themselves during a global crisis?
- Tomahawk

Extreme times ask for extreme measures. This is highly unlikely of course, but it is possible with enough resources.

The family can be part of the group of individuals isolated. They will be provided all amenities, cossetted etc. The playoffs can be shortened so its just 2 months.

People will fall sick, and need to see docs etc. of course. But they can be tested before and after such encounters.

Are their salaries fully guaranteed during this stoppage? If so, little leeway, but perhaps the league can add sweeteners as well. And make the offer public, so that everyone knows this is on the table and players feel there is a moral obligation to join in.

it's not theoretically feasible. It's absurd. What about the support people in the arenas that need to be there for the arena to operate? The engineers, off ice people, security, etc? They need to be isolated also? If the players are isolated, how are they fed? Do the people involved in that also have to be isolated. How about the visiting team. Say the Flyers are playing Florida at home. How does Florida get to Philly? All the airplane support people also have to be isolated? The pilots, the stewardesses? How about the baggage handlers? Team trainers who handle the equipment. They have to be isolated also? Where does the visting team stay while in town? In an isolated hotel? Now all of the staff there needs to be isolated? Get the picture?

Stupid algorithm's

- MJL

I don't see why baggage handlers and pilots and support staff in arenas need to interact with the cossetted core.

But for any unavoidable social encounter you just described, it is real simple. After that encounter, test. Weed out infected, and go back to the algorithm.

Extreme times ask for extreme measures. This is highly unlikely of course, but it is possible with enough resources.

The family can be part of the group of individuals isolated. They will be provided all amenities, cossetted etc. The playoffs can be shortened so its just 2 months.

People will fall sick, and need to see docs etc. of course. But they can be tested before and after such encounters.

Are their salaries fully guaranteed during this stoppage? If so, little leeway, but perhaps the league can add sweeteners as well. And make the offer public, so that everyone knows this is on the table and players feel there is a moral obligation to join in.
- PT21

I know you're just spitballing, but you really need to read what MJL wrote above about how your chain of isolation would quickly grow out of control, since the teams need to travel and they require support services to operate. You'd end up quarantining thousands of people just to put on some games.

Now say you've somehow successfully isolated the team from person to person transmission. But what about surface to person transmission? It's impossible to completely disinfect every space and surface the players will come into contact with.

Well this forum has again become a predictably unpleasant place to be and we aren't even talking hockey.

Stay home and stay safe, everyone.

I know you're just spitballing, but you really need to read what MJL wrote above about how your chain of isolation would quickly grow out of control, since the teams need to travel and they require support services to operate. You'd end up quarantining thousands of people just to put on some games.

Now say you've somehow successfully isolated the team from person to person transmission. But what about surface to person transmission? It's impossible to completely disinfect every space and surface the players will come into contact with.
- Tomahawk

Frankly, those are easily surmountable issues, at least for playoffs.

Since the games will be played in an empty arena anyway, home ice does not matter. Have the Eastern and western conference teams stay in the same location, play games in the same arena. Two games a day, afternoon and evening.

Teams are taken from secluded location to rink and practice in sanitized vehicles. That's pretty easy.

And regarding surface to human transmission, the odds are actually quite low. There has not yet been a single documented case of such a transmission occurring. It remains a theoretical possibility, but this is easily eliminated.

easily surmountable
- PT21

Ha

Ha
- Tomahawk

Yah its extreme.

But you know what? One of the reasons we in the west are suffering so much is precisely because we have lost out ability to fight and accept personal sacrifice.

Desperate times call for desperate measures.

Are you aware that a negative test result does not mean you don't have the virus?


I'll ask again, you said the player need to be quarantined between games. How do they do that?
- MJL

MJ, as I understand the testing so far, even if you show zero symptoms (asymptomatic), the tests will show positive if you have any degree of the virus. But still, your point is correct that daily testing of players, coaches, team staff, etc. will not be sufficient given the number of unaffiliated people that are required to run the arenas and travel and hotels, etc. etc. It's just not possible within a relevant range of certainty that would be required. At least not for the foreseeable future.

Ha
- Tomahawk

Guy, like them or not, these are solution ideas. I’m sure there are a ton of things on the table in the NHL meetings that you may consider even more far fetched.

2 things:

1. Like all businesses, the NHL’s risk aversion will end up not being infallible....money won’t allow it.

2. There is going to be a large amount of personal responsibility placed on the public very soon, much sooner than you think, to keep themselves healthy without federal or local government mandates and private closures.

It might blow your mind, but It doesn’t mean it’s not possible.

Yah its extreme.

But you know what? One of the reasons we in the west are suffering so much is precisely because we have lost out ability to fight and accept personal sacrifice.

Desperate times call for desperate measures.
- PT21

You might want to consider the possibility that it would likely cost the owners more to enact these kinds of procedures than they would make from putting the games on.

That is if the NHLPA would even go along with it in the first place.

You might want to consider the possibility that it would likely cost the owners more to enact these kinds of procedures than they would make from putting the games on.

That is if the NHLPA would even go along with it in the first place.
- Tomahawk

I don’t think you or anyone on here have even close to the knowledge to make that cal yeah?

Sure, I just don't think we can assume that sectors built around mass gatherings will bounce back immediately, if at all. And I don't think we can assume that most of the working people of this country will still have disposable income left to spend on live sports. We're probably in for a very different landscape when all is said and done.
- Tomahawk

I get the sentiment but I don't necessarily agree that the sports/live music industry wont bounce back fairly quickly. People still want to be entertained. After the 08 recession, entertainment was one of the first industries to bounce back. I think this does lead to lower ticket prices for a while though

I don't see why baggage handlers and pilots and support staff in arenas need to interact with the cossetted core.

But for any unavoidable social encounter you just described, it is real simple. After that encounter, test. Weed out infected, and go back to the algorithm.
- PT21

I going to give you a very simple, simple "algorithm" and see if it registers. If that level of isolation is needed to play, then it is not safe to play. They shouldn't be playing.

It's that simple.

Frankly, those are easily surmountable issues, at least for playoffs.

Since the games will be played in an empty arena anyway, home ice does not matter. Have the Eastern and western conference teams stay in the same location, play games in the same arena. Two games a day, afternoon and evening.

Teams are taken from secluded location to rink and practice in sanitized vehicles. That's pretty easy.

And regarding surface to human transmission, the odds are actually quite low. There has not yet been a single documented case of such a transmission occurring. It remains a theoretical possibility, but this is easily eliminated.
- PT21

No it's not easily surmountable. It's a virtual impossibility.

2. There is going to be a large amount of personal responsibility placed on the public very soon, much sooner than you think, to keep themselves healthy without federal or local government mandates and private closures.

It might blow your mind, but It doesn’t mean it’s not possible.
- Wingdestroyer

Very soon? We're already there. Social distancing and isolation is the only thing that is going to slow this down.

I don’t think you or anyone on here have even close to the knowledge to make that cal yeah?
- Wingdestroyer

It's pretty much common sense.