Elks COVID-19 update (Aug. 27)
Media availability with Chris Presson set for Friday afternoon
EDMONTON – The Edmonton Elks are reporting no new cases of COVID-19, resulting from the team's testing completed on Thursday, August 26. With no new cases on Thursday, the Elks' case count since returning from Vancouver last week remains at 14.
Based on direction from provincial health officials, the team's isolation period has been extended from seven to 10 days. All Edmonton tier 1 players, coaches, and staff will continue to receive daily PCR tests and remain at home in isolation through Tuesday, August 31. The Elks plan on returning to the team's facilities for in-person activities on Wednesday, September 1.
As previously stated, the identity of players who have tested positive will not be released at this time. Based on the CFL's collective bargaining agreement with the CFLPA, the Elks and the CFL are not at liberty to identify individual's who have tested positive for COVID-19.
Any players remaining in COVID protocols once the team resumes on-field activities will be identified in the team's first injury report, as per CFL requirements. COVID protocols includes both individuals who have tested positive, along with those who have been deemed a close contact of a positive case (either from within the team, or elsewhere (ex. family member)).
Please see below for more information about the team's vaccination rate, along with a detailed timeline since Edmonton's game against the Lions on Thursday, August 19.
As noted below, the Elks tier 1 vaccination rate is over 80 per cent, and is approaching the 85 per cent benchmark set out by the CFL.
Elks President and CEO Chris Presson will be available virtually to the media this afternoon at 4:00 p.m. MT.
MEDIA AVAILABILITY DETAILS
- WHO: Elks President and CEO Chris Presson
- WHAT: Elks COVID-19 update
- WHERE: Zoom (email evan.daum@goelks.com for login details)
- WHEN: 4:00 p.m. MT | Friday, August 27
ELKS TEAM VACCINATION INFORMATION
TIER 1 MEMBERS - PLAYERS AND COACHES (79)
- Fully vaccinated: 63 (79.7 per cent)
- Partially vaccinated: 3 (3.8 per cent)
- TOTAL TIER 1 VACCINATION: 83.5 per cent (fully and partially vaccinated combined)
TIMELINE SINCE RETURNING FROM VANCOUVER
Elks played B.C. Lions on Thursday, August 19
- Friday, August 20
- Elks return to Edmonton from Vancouver via charter flight (3:00 a.m. MT arrival)
- Saturday, August 21
- TESTING: All Elks tier 1 players, coaches, and staff are administered a PCR test at the team facility. As per CFL protocols, testing occurs within 48 hours of the team's most recent game.
- As a result of Saturday's tests, five (5) players returned positive results.
- TESTING: All Elks tier 1 players, coaches, and staff are administered a PCR test at the team facility. As per CFL protocols, testing occurs within 48 hours of the team's most recent game.
- Sunday, August 22
- Upon the return of Saturday's test results early Sunday morning, the Elks cancel Sunday's practice. The team facility is immediately closed to all activities (excluding testing) and all tier 1 players, coaches, and staff enter isolation at home. Enhanced testing plan is initiated.
- Edmonton's game against the Toronto Argonauts on Thursday, August 26 is postponed by the CFL.
- TESTING: All Elks tier 1 players, coaches, and staff are administered a rapid antigen test, and PCR test at the team facility. All tier 1 members are assigned a designated arrival time to avoid any crossover during testing.
- As a result of Sunday's tests, four (4) additional players returned positive PCR test results (team total rises to nine (9)).
- Monday, August 23
- TESTING: PCR testing for all tier 1 members. Fully vaccinated members are tested during assigned times at the team facility, while partially and unvaccinated members are tested at their residence.
- As a result of Monday's tests, two (2) additional players returned positive results (team total rises to 11).
- TESTING: PCR testing for all tier 1 members. Fully vaccinated members are tested during assigned times at the team facility, while partially and unvaccinated members are tested at their residence.
- Tuesday, August 24
- TESTING: Continued PCR testing for all tier 1 members.
- A̶s̶ ̶a̶ ̶r̶e̶s̶u̶l̶t̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶T̶u̶e̶s̶d̶a̶y̶'̶s̶ ̶t̶e̶s̶t̶s̶,̶ ̶o̶n̶e̶ ̶(̶1̶)̶ ̶a̶d̶d̶i̶t̶i̶o̶n̶a̶l̶ ̶p̶l̶a̶y̶e̶r̶ ̶r̶e̶t̶u̶r̶n̶e̶d̶ ̶a̶ ̶p̶o̶s̶i̶t̶i̶v̶e̶ ̶r̶e̶s̶u̶l̶t̶s̶ ̶(̶̶̶t̶̶̶e̶̶̶a̶̶̶m̶̶̶ ̶̶̶t̶̶̶o̶̶̶t̶̶̶a̶̶̶l̶̶̶ ̶̶̶r̶̶̶i̶̶̶s̶̶̶e̶̶̶s̶̶̶ ̶̶̶t̶̶̶o̶̶̶ ̶̶̶1̶̶̶2̶̶̶)̶̶̶.̶̶̶
- NOTE: Following further PCR testing of this player, their result was subsequently deemed a false positive. Totals in the remainder of the timeline have been revised to reflect this.
- A̶s̶ ̶a̶ ̶r̶e̶s̶u̶l̶t̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶T̶u̶e̶s̶d̶a̶y̶'̶s̶ ̶t̶e̶s̶t̶s̶,̶ ̶o̶n̶e̶ ̶(̶1̶)̶ ̶a̶d̶d̶i̶t̶i̶o̶n̶a̶l̶ ̶p̶l̶a̶y̶e̶r̶ ̶r̶e̶t̶u̶r̶n̶e̶d̶ ̶a̶ ̶p̶o̶s̶i̶t̶i̶v̶e̶ ̶r̶e̶s̶u̶l̶t̶s̶ ̶(̶̶̶t̶̶̶e̶̶̶a̶̶̶m̶̶̶ ̶̶̶t̶̶̶o̶̶̶t̶̶̶a̶̶̶l̶̶̶ ̶̶̶r̶̶̶i̶̶̶s̶̶̶e̶̶̶s̶̶̶ ̶̶̶t̶̶̶o̶̶̶ ̶̶̶1̶̶̶2̶̶̶)̶̶̶.̶̶̶
- TESTING: Continued PCR testing for all tier 1 members.
- Wednesday, August 25
- TESTING: Continued PCR testing for all tier 1 members.
- As a result of Wednesday's tests, two (2) additional players returned positive results (team total rises to 13).
- TESTING: Continued PCR testing for all tier 1 members.
- Thursday, August 26
- TESTING: Continued PCR testing for all tier 1 members.
- As a result of Thursday's tests, zero (0) positive results were returned (team total remains 13).
- TESTING: Continued PCR testing for all tier 1 members.
NOTE : The timeline above was revised on Sunday, August 29 to reflect a false positive, and the subsequent reduction of the team's case count to 13. Please see the note on Tuesday, August 24.
Evan Daum