If you happen to see any of the Prince George Cougars around the practice rink or in a grocery store and you want to shake their hands of give them a high-five to congratulate them on their outstanding team play of late, don't be discouraged if they shy away from physical contact their fans.
It's not that don't appreciate it, they just want to minimize the threat of catching the coronavirus.
That threat is considered low in Canada and especially in Prince George, where no cases have been reported. But the league has sent out an advisory on COVID-19 to its teams to try to discourage close interactions with the crowds for the remainder of the season.
That means no handshakes between teammates, opponents and officials. No sharing of water bottles or towels on benches or in penalty boxes and avoiding direct contact with fans, including high-fives, handshakes and signing autographs.
The league has sent information packages which describe the symptoms of COVID-19 and how it is transmitted to the medical/training staff of all its 22 teams. Players and team personnel are being advised to contact club medical staff immediately if they exhibit any symptoms.
It advises regular and vigourous hand-washing with soap and water and the use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers to disinfect objects and surfaces.
The coronavirus is most-commonly transmitted through close contact (within two metres) with an infected person through droplets produced when that person coughs or sneezes. People should sneeze or cough into a tissue or into their sleeves, rather than use their hand to cover their mouths or noses. The virus can also be spread from an infected surface or object.
The league has three teams in Washington state, which has reported 22 death related to COVID-19. All but one of the deaths in that state are are associated with a nursing facility in King County, close to the Seattle Thunderbirds' home in Kent, Wash.
The Cougars will be travelling this week to Victoria, where they play the Royals Friday and Saturday, then head back on the ferry to play the Vancouver Giants Sunday in Langley.
"We'll be safe, with water bottles and towels and touching people and shaking hands and that kind of stuff, you just have to be careful," said Cougars head coach and general manager Mark Lamb.
"The league is putting out stuff and everyone's aware of it and we're aware of it, so we'll do what we have to do."
